The weather was bright and dry on Tuesday 3rd October when the Chepstow Division of the soldiers, sailors, airmen & families association charity, SSAFA, arranged their annual ‘Big Brew Up’ in Chepstow high street.  

Tea, coffee and cakes, provided by the SSAFA volunteers and 1 RIFLES, were served to the public from their Fisherman Square gazebo under the eye of the risqué bronze state.   

The public were most generous and enjoyed picking out a naughty slice from the wide selection of home-made delicacies in exchange for a donation to the charity.  This is an annual event enabling the public to mix and meet with the Riflemen and their SSAFA team who cover Chepstow, Caldicot, Magor, Rogiet, Tintern Portskewett and the surrounding areas. The public were clearly very proud of the Riflemen, led by Colour Serhompson, and they enjoyed seeing them in the town when people stopped to chat and reminisce. 

In addition to the local SSAFA volunteers there was also valuable on-site help from Philippa Baker, the wife of 1 RIFLES Commanding Officer and Captain Owen Mitchell, the unit welfare officer.    

The Divisional Secretary of Chepstow SSAFA, Commander Christopher Wilson, stated that he wished to record a great vote of thanks to both the 1 RIFLES for their generous support.  He said that the event had raised almost £1,000 which is an excellent result that demonstrated both the generosity of the local people and their admiration for their Armed Forces and their families.