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04/08/2009
More Lottery Cash For Veterans
Veterans of World War II are to receive further lottery cash to allow them to visit battlefields overseas.
As news of another big Lottery winner emerged - this time in Northern Ireland where a man has scooped almost £4.6m - the Big Lottery Fund has announced that an extra £800,000 is to be paid out to allow another 1,100 veterans to return to the overseas' battlefields under the Heroes Return scheme.
The fund has already paid for more than 39,000 former military personnel to return to places where they fought more than 60 years ago.
Norman Vickerstaff, from Nottingham, told the BBC today that it would be "moving" to return to Taiwan, where he was a prisoner of war.
Heroes Return, launched in 2004, aims to support war veterans and their families as well as educate other generations on the lives of those who served in conflicts.
Mr Vickerstaff, who served first in the Indian Army and then in Malaya and Singapore before becoming a prisoner of war in Taiwan, has received a grant of £2,000.
"I've been a couple of times before. It's a very moving experience, going back," he said.
He will attend an annual commemorative service at the site of the Kinkaseki mine, where he worked when he was a prisoner.
Peter Wanless, the Big Lottery Fund's Chief Executive, said: "The generation of men and women who served this country during the Second World War gave so much to protect the freedoms we enjoy today.
"On behalf of the whole nation, we are honouring the service and sacrifice of so many of our veterans."
See: 'Luck Of The Irish' Strikes Again
(BMcC/KMcA)
As news of another big Lottery winner emerged - this time in Northern Ireland where a man has scooped almost £4.6m - the Big Lottery Fund has announced that an extra £800,000 is to be paid out to allow another 1,100 veterans to return to the overseas' battlefields under the Heroes Return scheme.
The fund has already paid for more than 39,000 former military personnel to return to places where they fought more than 60 years ago.
Norman Vickerstaff, from Nottingham, told the BBC today that it would be "moving" to return to Taiwan, where he was a prisoner of war.
Heroes Return, launched in 2004, aims to support war veterans and their families as well as educate other generations on the lives of those who served in conflicts.
Mr Vickerstaff, who served first in the Indian Army and then in Malaya and Singapore before becoming a prisoner of war in Taiwan, has received a grant of £2,000.
"I've been a couple of times before. It's a very moving experience, going back," he said.
He will attend an annual commemorative service at the site of the Kinkaseki mine, where he worked when he was a prisoner.
Peter Wanless, the Big Lottery Fund's Chief Executive, said: "The generation of men and women who served this country during the Second World War gave so much to protect the freedoms we enjoy today.
"On behalf of the whole nation, we are honouring the service and sacrifice of so many of our veterans."
See: 'Luck Of The Irish' Strikes Again
(BMcC/KMcA)
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10 November 2004
Remembrance week sees heroes return to old battlefields
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Remembrance week sees heroes return to old battlefields
As the nation prepares to remember Britain's war dead, the Big Lottery Fund today announced new awards for Second World War veterans to revisit the battlefronts where they saw action 60 years ago through the multi-million pound 'Heroes Return' scheme.
07 April 2005
Lottery cash to bring children and WWII veterans together
As the UK prepares to mark the 60th anniversary next month of the end of the Second World War in Europe, lottery grants announced today will be awarded to fund special projects explaining the importance of the victory to today's young people.
Lottery cash to bring children and WWII veterans together
As the UK prepares to mark the 60th anniversary next month of the end of the Second World War in Europe, lottery grants announced today will be awarded to fund special projects explaining the importance of the victory to today's young people.
28 May 2003
National Lottery ticket sales fall continues
Figures released today from National Lottery operator Camelot have revealed that there has been a massive fall in the sales of the main Lotto game. Ticket sales plunged 12% for the draw, but Camelot has pledged to return the lottery to growth with "innovative new draws".
National Lottery ticket sales fall continues
Figures released today from National Lottery operator Camelot have revealed that there has been a massive fall in the sales of the main Lotto game. Ticket sales plunged 12% for the draw, but Camelot has pledged to return the lottery to growth with "innovative new draws".
09 August 2005
VJ Day commemorations to receive Lottery grants
The government has announced lottery funding for events marking the 60th anniversary of VJ Day across the UK, next week. Nearly 3,000 projects across the UK have received grants from the £17 million fund to help finance specials projects including musical events, re-enactments, aerial displays, street parties, exhibitions and storytelling events.
VJ Day commemorations to receive Lottery grants
The government has announced lottery funding for events marking the 60th anniversary of VJ Day across the UK, next week. Nearly 3,000 projects across the UK have received grants from the £17 million fund to help finance specials projects including musical events, re-enactments, aerial displays, street parties, exhibitions and storytelling events.
02 April 2003
French anti-war protesters vandalise British war cemetery
There has been widespread disgust voiced today after anti-war graffiti was daubed across a war memorial in France commemorating the sacrifice of 11,000 Commonwealth troops in the First World War.
French anti-war protesters vandalise British war cemetery
There has been widespread disgust voiced today after anti-war graffiti was daubed across a war memorial in France commemorating the sacrifice of 11,000 Commonwealth troops in the First World War.
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Perhaps a touch of ground frost. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
