About the UK Garrison
Wayne Allen
London Film & Comic Con
Don’t forget if you are visiting London Film & Comic Con today, you can find us, together with the The Rebel Legion UK and Vok'Chi Clan in the Star Wars zone. We don’t have any cookies but there are plenty of photo opportunities.
London Film & Comic Con at the Olympia London
This weekend sees London Film & Comic Con at the Olympia London. Come join ourselves, Vok'Chi Clan Mando Mercs and The Rebel Legion UK in the Star Wars Zone.
I think we are going to need reinforcements!!
Pics Richard Tibberts
Hallam Primary Fete, Sheffield
Boba Fett from the 501st UK Garrison paid a visit to Hallam Primary Fete in Sheffield. We can report an encounter with a yellow animal did not result in any disintegrations. The event was supporting the Sheffield Children's Hospital charity. Sheffield Children's Hospital NHS and Charity
Streets Alive, Chelmsford Arts Festival
The 501st UK Garrison reported to Streets Alive, organised by Chelmsford Arts Festival in order to patrol for an afternoon of silliness as a host of street performers caused mayhem across the city centre.
Pics Mark Ward
Let’s Rock Exeter
Troopers from the 501st UK Garrison were deployed to Let’s Rock Exeter. Despite the inclement weather no Rebels escaped their inspection.
Pics Nick Hall
Isle Fest at The Isle of Ely Primary School
Troopers from the 501st UK Garrison were asked to deploy to the Isle fest at The Isle of Ely Primary school. On arrival Troopers immediately sprang into action supporting the local security forces with road closures.
Pic Mark Jacobs
Reading Buses Charity Open Day
The 501st UK Garrison were asked to patrol the Reading Buses charity open day. Reading Buses opened their doors to all so visitors could see behind the scenes, explore the buses and enjoy a wide range of family fun activities! Raising funds for New Beginnings Reading.
Pics Lee Habgood
Covid 19 Status
Giving Samuel a Ray of Sunshine
Saturday 7th September and Invasion Colchester 2019, one of the most loved events in the UK Garrison calendar takes place again, with over 50 members from the UK Garrison and Reel Icons in attendance, along with Rebel Legion, AvP, R2 Builders, and the Mando Mercs, and this year like every other was going to be special...
…but it was made even more special for one particular young man by the name of Samuel.
Samuel was born with severe heart defects, undergoing lifesaving open heart surgery at just 6 days old, and again at 3 months old, with his parents Ricky and Vicki at his bedside the whole time.
At the age of 2 Samuel started to deteriorate rapidly so Great Ormond Street Hospital in London bought him back in for his 3rd open heart surgery. Thankfully this has been the last major surgical procedure to date. However.. and it’s a big however.. its helped but not completely fixed Samuels heart, and now they are just waiting for it to fail again.
There are no more surgical options open to Samuel now. There's only one cure left and that's a heart transplant. Ricky, his father said “We don't have any time scale on this.. it could happen tomorrow or maybe in 5 years, we just don't know but it will come eventually. Samuel is incredibly brave and lives and leads a normal life of any little boy; he goes to school, he has girlfriends, he's just a normal kid who loves his Marvel and DC super heroes and Power Rangers."
Whilst they were in great Ormond Street for his 3rd open heart surgery, the Rays of Sunshine charity approached them and asked if Samuel would like to ‘make a wish’. It took some time for him to recover before his parents were able to ask him… and his answer was simply “I want to see my super heroes at Disney” ..so he wrote his wish and sent this to Rays of Sunshine.
A few months ago Samuels wish was granted by the charity. “We had no idea how to tell him so I contacted Colchester Invasion people through Facebook, which led me to the UK Garrison, and for that I'm truly grateful, because what you guys did will be an everlasting memory for all of us... it's about making memories for Samuel and you certainly did this for him”
Unbeknown to Samuel, our Reel Icons Batman and Cat Woman, along with local costumers the Joker, Harley Quinn and Spiderman were lying in wait around a full size working batmobile to surprise him (and the gathered crowd) and present Samuel with his wish on behalf of Rays of Sunshine. The family will be flown out to Walt Disney World in Florida (yes, he has to take is sisters with him, much to their delight) so his wish can come true and he can meet his super heroes.
Samuel, Daisy and Betsy got to meet and chat with several of their favourite characters up close on Saturday and sit in the batmobile with batman.
.. and this is why we do what we do.
Colin Wilby becomes Derian House Ambassador
We would like to congratulate one of our own, Colin Wilby on his recent appointment as a Derian House Ambassador. Derian House Childrens Hospice provide vital care for life threatened children and young people and provide support for their families. Colin is an Event Administrator with the UK Garrison and has numerous costumes including Captain America, Indiana Jones and Stormtroopers.
