Juno Company - Toy Drive for Children's Hospice

Juno Company

Juno company began planning in the summer, this incredibly generous and festive idea to deliver donated presents to a worthwhile cause. The chosen charity was Julia's House, Children's Hospice.

As Devizes is the HQ for Wiltshire Army Cadet Force and Devizes Detachment falls in the AOR for Juno Company it was a fitting charity.

The cadets from Juno Companies 8 x Detachments of Colerne, Corsham, Devizes, Lavington, Melksham, Trowbridge, Warminster, and Westbury, donated and collected from their local communities presents and gifts for the children of the Hospice.

Together with the local Stonecutters Masonic Bikers Association - Wiltshire Chapter, with liaisons through SMI Jack Hargreaves

OC of Juno Company, Maj Andy Emery, said "It was great to see our young cadets working and interacting with the Stonecutters. Another one of those moments, where 2 groups of people of different ages, and diversities come together and achieve such a fantastic result for the Children of Julias House".

On The day

As with any operation, planning is key to its success. But with any event in the UK, weather can generally throw up its own problems and today was no exception. A bitterly cold and snow-laden cold snap descended on Wiltshire. But true to form our cadets and Adult Volunteers proceeded with the mission of getting the toys to Julia's Hospice as planned.

The toys and Presents were loaded onto the Van at Trowbridge. The Van heavily loaded with toys was driven by SMI Steve Walters to Julias Hospice in Devizes. Flanked and escorted by the Stonecutters Bikers, Santas cargo was on its way.

The cadets were driven by a minibus, which was decorated and dressed in Christmas lights by Sgt Andy Craig

On arrival

The van was opened up to show the festive load. The manager of the Hospice gasped and was clearly surprised at the number of gifts and toys, showing so much delight and appreciation.

The mass of presents was then unloaded and stored in the hospice. A chain of cadets and adults ferrying the gifts in the snow and freezing weather, in a scene not unlike a humanitarian aid supply in a far-off place across the world and not a Hospice in Devizes.

The cadets who are eligible will earn a well-deserved pass, for their Cadet In The Community syllabus, but that was far from their motivation. Just a happy by-product of doing a selfless and generous activity for children who are less fortunate than they.