November is here already and whilst we love all the fun and fireworks of Bonfire Night, this is also a very important month as we remember all those service men and women injured and killed fighting wars throughout the world. 

The traditional poppies have already started to appear on TV and in shops around Heanor and Ripley, and plans are already underway for Remembrance Day parades and services around our parishes.  There are even poppies adorning the lampposts arond the Town Hall in Ripley, all of which serve to help us remember and pay our respects as is fitting the enormous sacrifice these ordinary people and their families have made.

But what about those still serving out there.  Our Armed Forces are fighting conflicts around the world on a daily basis often for months and months at a time, many miles from family and friends.  Don't they deserve our help and support to get through every day. We all hear about Libya, Afghanistan and Iraq on a daily basis, but do we really stop to think about what its actually like in those countries and the conditions these guys are living in?

That's why we're pleased to help promote the fantastic efforts of our friends at The Book Boutique in Church Street, Ripley, who are running a Christmas Parcel Appeal for UK Forces Support.

This brilliant campaign collects and collates a wide variety of small items to include in special Christmas parcels, which are then sent on to serving personnel around the world, bringing them some much-appreciated festive cheer, as well as thoughts from home. For some soldiers, this may be the only contact they have with the UK over the Christmas period.

If you want to donate any items, just pop in to The Book Boutique and speak to Caroline, Carole or Frank, who will be really happy to accept your gift.  You can donate pretty much anything that will fit into a standard sized shoe box (you don't need to provide the box though) alhtough this mustn't include aerosols, alcohol, christmas crackers, party poppers, lighters, matches or glass containers.

Popular items include small things like santa hats, selection boxes, sweets, cakes, christmas pudding, nuts, raisins, books, notepads, pens, pencils, toiletry items and pretty much anything else you can think of.

What makes the parcels even more special is if you can send a short note of support with your donation.  And if you include your name and address, the recipient of your message may well write back to thank you, an activity and contact that serving personnel find really helpful to their morale.

For more information about this national appeal, please visit www.ukforcessupport.co.uk or call Carole Hirst on 07853 979289