A cheque for £500 has been presented by Westbury Festival to the Army Benevolent Fund, the Army’s national charity, from funds raised from festival tours this year.
The funds were raised through two days of guided tours of the historic Army Officer Selection Board (AOSB) grounds and Leighton House, led by Lt Colonel (Retd) Andrew Field. The tours were part of the Westbury Festival, a two-week programme of cultural events in July.
“The tours proved to be extremely popular, selling out on both days, as visitors enjoyed a rare opportunity to learn about the history, architecture, and role of the AOSB,” said Lisa McGowan from the Westbury Festival.
The cheque was presented by Lt Colonel (Retd) Andrew Field and Lisa McGowan to Colonel Mark Gidlow-Jackson, President of the Army Officer Selection Board.
“We’re delighted that Andrew’s fascinating tours not only engaged so many local residents but also helped raise funds for such a worthy cause,” said Lisa.
“Supporting the Army Benevolent Fund feels particularly meaningful given Westbury’s close links to the military community.”
Westbury Festival members also presented Lt Col Field with a bottle of port as a token of appreciation for his time.
The Westbury Festival are hosting an AGM on Thursday 30th October at The Laverton at 7.30pm. They are actively looking for more volunteers. To get in touch, contact chair@westburyfestival.org.uk
Pictured: Lisa McGowan, Andrew Field and Mark Gidlow-Jackson
