Christmas comes early for local veterans as charity concert rocks Exeter Racecourse

Exeter veterans enjoyed a Christmas party with a difference at The Not Forgotten Jingle Bell Rock drive-in concert at Exeter Racecourse on Thursday 9th December.

The Not Forgotten, a British Armed Forces charity which supports serving and ex-service men and women performed in Exeter during their Christmas concert tour which aims to entertain, boost morale and lift lockdown spirits by reaching veterans across the UK.

Over 100 local veterans and their guests enjoyed a feast of festivities in their social bubble at the Jingle Bell Rock concert, providing a real boost to many local residents who have been struggling with loneliness and isolation.

The Not Forgotten professional entertainment team performed a varied set including popular classics and festive favourites which saw veterans letting their hair down and enjoying a singalong and a dance after so many weeks in lockdown this year. They also got involved with interactive games such as ‘singo bingo’ and a numberplate raffle during the memorable afternoon.

To complete the Christmas party feel, a hog roast with all the trimmings was served to guests which was enjoyed from the safety and warmth of their cars.

The drive-in concert was arranged in strict accordance with local and government COVID-19 guidelines. Each vehicle was parked at a specified distance from others, so veterans and their guests could get in the swing of things and dance the afternoon away – in safety.

Commenting on the concert, Brigadier James Stopford, CBE, CEO of The Not Forgotten said: “Sadly, as COVID continues to impact our daily lives, we’ve had to put our traditional Christmas parties for veterans on hold.

But it is a year when we need to do more for those who have really felt the restrictions. So, we’ve improvised, adapted and overcome the obstacles and are bringing some much-needed cheer, fun and entertainment to those that have served our country by offering them some early Christmas celebrations.”

The Not Forgotten combats isolation and loneliness amongst the Armed Forces community through social activities and challenge holidays. If you are a serving or ex-member of the Armed Forces or you know of someone that could benefit from the help of The Not Forgotten, please get in touch by contacting Tel: 0207 730 2400