We want to give you and your buddy a £25 voucher each and an Armed Forces charity of your choosing a £100 donation in your name. This can be a national charity or a local one that may have helped you or someone close to you.
On Monday 21st June 2021 we will be supporting Armed Forces week and we want your help to do so. Between Monday 14th June and Monday 21st June we want to hear your Buddy Buddy stories and below our director, Nick Woodland, explains all. These stories will then be shared during Armed Forces Week after which we will pick a winner. Our director explains the details below:-
“As an ex-service personnel I personally have some fond memories and some mannerisms that I haven’t lost, even though I wished that I could. I still say things like, “Say again, over” or “If it ain’t raining then it ain’t training” (Please do not judge me) but one of the things that I’ve used a lot as a sports coach is the “Buddy Buddy System”. I’ve used it when referring to a team mate covering another when they defend or when getting a team mate to check in with another to make sure they are OK.
In the Armed Forces you make friends and you look out for each other, even on a night out as “sprogs” we were told about shark watch to keep those out with us safe. This is what this competition is all about, we want to hear about a moment when your buddy has helped you. It could be a story of a friendship that began with hours on stag at 03:00 and has seen you playing important roles at your weddings etc. Maybe a moment in time when your buddy saved you, maybe during a military conflict or maybe a personal conflict.
We want your buddy stories, and we want to remind people that no matter what, your buddy is always there for them. In a world that has been very difficult for many we wanted to celebrate Armed Forces Week by reminding people of this fact.
To start the ball rolling I will share my buddy buddy story. January 2001 a young, naive and frankly underprepared me headed to Bassingbourn for my basic training. There I made hard work of passing out but I made a friend called Wilko, we had lots of time to chat – mainly at the back of the majority of runs etc (He wont mind me sharing that fact). Trade training came and we lost contact slightly, due to us having different job roles and therefore different blocks. We have kept in contact over the years, he is my eldest daughter’s god father, and even though we may only speak twice a year he is always there for me. I’ve never had a lot of confidence, my anxiety has often seen me avoiding taking “gambles” in life and I’ve had my fair share of set backs, but Wilko has always backed me. Even when I ran rugby events he would offer to sponsor it or when I took the plunge to set up Woodland Support he helped with the digital side of things. It may sound daft but knowing that someone has your back has helped me through some dark times and helped me to take “gambles”. We may not speak often but if he ever needed me then he knows that I would be there for him, I always send his children a Christmas present because in my eyes they are like family to me and no matter what I will always make sure that what happened in Sticky’s will never be discussed to anyone to save his dignity.”
Signaller Woodland
Director and Owner
Woodland Support
To send us your Buddy Buddy Story just click here*.
*Please note that by clicking on the above link, and entering the competition, you consent to us using the contents of the story on our website and social media platforms.
