THE Chepstow Division of the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association charity SSAFA arranged their annual ‘Big Brew Up’ in Chepstow last week.  

Tea, coffee and cakes, provided by the SSAFA volunteers and 1 RIFLES, were served to the public from their Fisherman Square gazebo in exchange for a donation to the charity. 

This annual event enables 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 Sergeant Alan Fuller, and they enjoyed seeing them in the town when people stopped to chat and reminisce. 

There was also valuable on-site help from Jo, the wife of 1 Rifles Commanding Officer and Captain Mitch Mitchell, the Unit Welfare Officer together with his family.    

Equally vital was the adjacent Barclay’s Bank who most generously applied their community Matching Grant to this event. 

Their staff, including Allyson Barnes, worked alongside the volunteers and soldiers rattling tins and encouraging the public to choose from one of the wicked cakes.  

For every pound that was raised Barclay’s added a further pound.

This is a most generous scheme to support community events by registered charities and made a huge difference to the final totals of this event.

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 and to Barclays Bank for their considerable support. 

He said that the event had raised some £1,600 which is was excellent result.

It demonstrated both the generosity of the local people and their admiration for their Armed Forces and their families.