Our VIP Hospitality Day at the Bournemouth Air Festival was the best yet. The event is hosted at Bayside Restaurant by Tracey and her outstanding team from Slick Events. The guests literally have the best seats in town.

The Air Festival Hospitality marquee is the ONLY hospitality venue located on the beach directly under the central flight line, providing the perfect setting to watch the action. The venue is stunning and with the view, the fabulous food, incredibly attentive staff, a fantastic flying programme, and even some sunshine, there is no more that we could have asked for. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the day.

Proceedings got underway with the hugely talented Land Girls. The hospitality package included, welcome drinks, 2 course lunch and afternoon cream tea and the JTYAF is privileged to have the opportunity to run a raffle and a ‘silent auction.’

We were delighted to see our great friends the Tigers Army Parachute Display Team, who popped into the marquee to say hello. Their mascot, Magnus, was the star of the show and the guests had lots of photo opportunities with them all. The Tigers kindly donated a prize for the silent auction too, giving the lucky winner the chance to experience the thrill of skydiving from 13,000 feet with members of the team.

Our thanks must go to all our guests who supported this event so generously, however, without the kind contributions from a great many individuals and businesses this fundraising would not be possible.

A very special thank you to Maggie and Brian Keet, who have supported us for many years with numerous Navy Wings gifts and VIP Visits to RNAS Yeovilton. Thanks must also go to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at RAF Coningsby, the Red Arrows, the Tigers Army Parachute Display Team, Cdr Henaghen RN, Maurice Patterson MBE, Richard Clarke, Donaldson Ross & Co, Stewarts Garden Centre Christchurch, Abbotsbury Swannery, Hall & Woodhouse, Haskins Garden Centre, Knoll Gardens, Tesco Ferndown, Sainsbury’s Ferndown, Morrisons Verwood, Osprey Publishing, The Tank Museum, Compton Acres, Falmer Palmers, Palmers Brewery, Bournemouth Red Arrows Association.

Thanks must also go to our volunteers. Without them this event would not be possible. We were lucky to have Lesley and Karen from Barclays, pictured centre above, Charlie, Sara and Katia from HSBC pictured below, and Amanda and Kate.

We are extremely grateful for all the generous support that John’s Foundation receives ensuring that the charity can continue to invest in young lives, providing access to opportunities that wouldn’t otherwise be possible. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year and will make a huge difference to a great many young people. We are expecting the total raised to be in excess of £7500!!