Attending a Buckingham Palace garden party with the Not Forgotten association

Unique experiences at Buckingham Palace charity eventsPrince Michael of Kent at NFA summer garden partyThe Churchill Arms landlord Gerry at NFA garden partyMilitary bands performances at Buckingham Palace eventExperience at Not Forgotten Association garden partyRoyal Family attended charity event for war pensionersNot Forgotten Association support for injured veteransAnnual summer event for military personnel and veterans in LondonBritish veterans charity events at Buckingham PalaceNot Forgotten Association garden party Buckingham Palace
Written By Chris Shirley MA FRGS

In summer 2015, I was delighted to join the Not Forgotten Association for their annual summer garden party at Buckingham Palace in central London.

 

If you’ve not heard of them, the Not Forgotten Association is a prominent British veterans charity founded in 1920, to provide support and assistance to military personnel and veterans who have sustained injuries or disabilities due to their service. Over the decades, the organisation has played a crucial role in enhancing the well-being and quality of life for veterans in the United Kingdom.

 

Specifically organised for the benefit of War Pensioners and service personnel, the annual event brings together over 2,000 people, spanning all ages and services, along with their caregivers and escorts every year, which was wonderful to be a part of – especially meeting Gerry, the animated landlord of The Churchill Arms, aka ‘the most festive pub in the whole of the UK’ located nearby in Kensington.

 

The Garden Party was presided over by senior members of the Royal Family, in this instance Princess Anne and Prince Michael of Kent, and saw performances by military bands, such as the Royal Marines band seen in the photos.

 

The day was an incredible experience, and not one I’ll forget in a hurry! I’d always dreamed of seeing the side of our country’s institutions that little other get to, and this opportunity really bought it together for me!

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Chris Shirley MA FRGS

About the Author: A former Royal Marines officer and advisor to the BBC, Chris has travelled in over 60 countries, is a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, a Guinness World Record holder for rowing over 3500 miles across the Atlantic Ocean, a Marathon des Sables finisher, and is the founder of ‘Haus of Hiatus’, a website design and branding studio that designs and amplifies start-ups, scale-ups and special projects around the world.

He has worked with Hollywood actors, world–renowned musical artists and TV personalities, and is delighted to have had his work featured by the United Nations, Red Bull, BBC, and even seen at the South Pole!

https://www.hausofhiatus.com/team
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