FORCES CHILDREN’S TRUST. 14.12.2007 A dream came true for many children and one man in these past two weeks. The Forces Children’s Trust was started four years ago to help educational, emotional and material needs of children who had lost a parent whilst serving in the Armed Forces. Its founder, Denny Wise, wanted to ensure that their needs were not overlooked both at the time of their loss and in subsequent years. The charity, supported by ERSF, is now established and recognised for its work for the children and by other forces charities and organisations. A party of 50 mothers and children were brought by the Trust from all over the United Kingdom to London for the weekend. The children then went by Telling Golden Miller Coaches to The Sound Of Music at the London Palladium, returning to the Victory Services Club for a surprise party, where Noel Edmonds made an unexpected appearance, which was recorded as part of his Christmas Show; Noel’s Christmas Presents. A further and complete surprise was arranged for the children just two weeks later, when they were taken from Manchester Airport and flown to visit Father Christmas in Lapland by the good offices of bmi, Esprit Holidays, Lapland Safaris, Manchester Airport Marriott Hotel, Sky TV, Twofour Broadcast Ltd., organised by the Forces Children’s Trust. The dream of children to see Father Christmas certainly came true and along with Noel Edmonds they all enjoyed the magical trip of a lifetime. The dream of the Trust’s founder to help them more than fulfilled the trust’s defining slogan ‘To Help a Child is an Honour’. All the helpers from the Trust and the TV Production Unit alike acknowledged what an honour, indeed a privilege; it had been to make some of the dreams come true for children and founder alike. Jon Pewtner, bmi charter manager said: “bmi was delighted to get involved with the Forces Children’s Trust, Esprit Holidays and the Sky One programme Noel’s Christmas Presents’ to take such a wonderful and deserving group of children to Lapland for a truly magical day out. “These children have to cope with bereavement at such an early age. Christmas is ordinarily a time of joy, fun and happiness, but it’s also a particularly poignant time of year. We all were determined to create smiles, laughter and a happy Christmas memory for these children, one that they will remember and their mums will cherish for a long time to come”. Donations to the Forces Children’s Trust can be made at: www.forceschildrenstrust.org