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The WW1 Themed Fete took place on the 21st July 2018 at the GL3 Community Hub with aims to:

  • Raise donations for the ‘Alabare’ Ex Homeless Veterans Charity based in Gloucester
  • We managed to raise a total of £540.00 from the amazing generosity of those who attended this event!

    Photo of Cheque for £540 being given to Alabare

    Letter of Acknowledgement from Alabare

    Letter of Acknowledgement from Alabare
  • Follow a theme of the Centenary Commemorations of WW1 2018
  • To strengthen networks with local military units, their families and GL3HUB Services
  • Promote the services and amenities that GL3HUB has to offer business and services
  • To promote the profile and support that GL3HUB can offer communities in the Local Innsworth and Churchdown estates

The WW1 Summer Charity Fete raised over £540 for the Ex Homeless Veterans which will be presented in early August 2018. Funding will be going to support the Veterans to access mental health and self development courses throughout the UK:

One such Veteran, ‘Mark’, gave over 60 Hours of his own time building the Trench and Artwork for the Graffiti Wall. He is attending a self development course aboard a Tall Ship in August 2018. There is equipment and clothing needed on this development course. If anyone can help with this, please contact me.

Mark's ‘Taste The Trench’ is a mobile, wooden trench, the majority of which was made from donations of wood materials from 'Cheltenham Fencing’. Other donations came from International Plywood Ltd (Innsworth Industrial estate) and ARRC HQ (Support Battalion). Graham, the Manager of Cheltenham Fencing, was extremely helpful in supporting this 'Taste The Trench’ concept with donations of fence panels, pallets and posts for the ‘mock barbed wire'.

Logo for Cheltenham Fencing

Pictures on this page show the Trench, which was adapted to recreate the type of fortified trenches that Soldiers of Gloucestershire may have fought in 1914-1918.

The 'No Man’s Land' Graffiti Wall was jointly decorated by a local artist Tim, veterans from ‘Alabare’ and the local youth group from the GL3HUB Community Centre. Eight 8x4 foot Plywood Sheets were donated by International Plywood Ltd based in Innsworth Industrial Estate (see attached pictures).

Handmade Poppies were made by Young Children from the GL3HUB Youth Club, which were bought via donations and attached with messages, planted in front of the Graffiti Wall.

Also, a Senior Citizen who had been attending the Age UK service at the GL3HUB Community Centre made and decorated nearly 80 Love Hearts with these too being exchanged for donations and people could hang them on a ‘Burnt Tree’. The ‘Burnt Tree’ symbolises the trees shredded by shell fire in ‘No Man’s Land’ between the Trenches.

Additionally, Pottery Love Heart Jewellery, was made and sold by another Senior Citizen Lady ‘DOT’, who had attended the same Age Uk Group at the GL3HUB Community Centre.

A Mini Assault Course, was erected and competitions, with a dances through the tyres, crawling under the camoflauge net and finishing with a football range shootout.

Year 7 & 8 Pupils from Chosen Hill School produced a ‘Weeping Poppy Sculpture’ with WW1 Poems composed by the pupils.

Mixed Martial Arts, Junior Hockey and ‘Rugby Tots’ demonstrated throughout the day giving examples of the type of organisations people can expect at the GL3HUB Community Centre.

Other stalls included:

  • Donated Sausages (from Nick Brown’s Butchers in Longlevens), which were griddled
  • A Large Raffle was arranged with Donated Raffle Prizes from: Badham’s Chemist in Churchdown, GL3HUB Cafe, Mixed Martial Arts group and Friends of GL3HUB and Trustees.
  • Local groups were welcomed to promote their charities and small businesses that support local communities.

Mr Page and Mr Ridler (Gloucester WW1 Memorabilia Collector @ Upstairs Downstairs near the Gloucester Quays) both brought WW1 Uniforms and Memorabilia for people to chat to and learn about the life of those in the Great War. Especially Mr Page (teacher from Parton Mannor Junior School) who dressed in full French WW1 Uniform, in 28 degrees heat!

Corned Beef hash was cooked up by Alex and Karen in the GL3HUB Cafe (open every Mon-Sat 10am-2pm). Karen and her Support cook banged the pots with their helmets on to give out free tastes of Trench Corned Beef Cooking.

The Cake stall was staffed by Family and Friends of Trustees

It's further planned to transport the ‘Taste The Trench’ and 'No Man's Land’ Graffiti Wall displays on the following event:

25th August 2018 10am-5pm 'Taste The Trench’ @ the front of Gloucester Shire Hall, Westgate Street, on the Glos Retro Weekend. Money raised will go to ‘Combat Stress’


On behalf of the GL3 Community HUB, the general public, the Veterans and some very generous local businesses, I would like to say ‘thank you’ to all the Companies and Individuals who made this day such a success!


Picture of volunteers

Picture of the 1914-1918 Graffiti Wall

Graffiti Wall

Picture of the Inside of the Trench

Inside the Trench

Picture of the Outside of the Trench

Outside the Trench

Picture of the Graffiti Wall and Poppy Wall

Graffiti and Weeping Poppy Walls

Picture of Mark on his stall

Mark from Alabare

Picture of Mark on his stall

Mark from Alabare

Picture of the Poppy Wall

Weeping Poppy Wall

Picture of the outside of the Trench

Outside the Trench

Picture showing acrobatics

Mixed Martial Arts Club Demonstration

Picture showing outside of the Trench

Trench Soldiers on watch

Picture of the Cake Stall

Cake Stall

Picture of the 'Kick the ball through the hole' event

Shooting Wall, part of the Mini Assault Course




Event Sponsors

Picture of International Plywood Ltd Innsworth Logo Logo for Cheltenham Fencing Nick Brown's Butchers' Facebook Page Link to ARRC HQ Website.  ARRC Support Battalion leant us a 12 by 12 tent, camoflauge net, bunting and sandbags 6 Rifles Website GL3 Hub Logo





Plywood UK Logo linking to website Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum Logo linking to website GL3 Community Hub Logo linking to website Alabare Logo linking to website