Durham ACF mark TA 100

Durham County help Northumberland Branch of The Army Benevolent Fund

Durham County helped Northumberland Branch of The Army Benevolent Fund mark TA 100 in a most innovative way which gained much publicity.

100 Cadet, OTC and TA members slid down a zip wire, running the entire length of Newcastle United football ground. The Club were about to take up their St James' Park pitch and re-seed for the new season.

Durham's Chaplain, recently created a Canon of Newcastle Cathedral, was sponsored by his congregation to the tune of £600 and, on his way down, prayed for Newcastle's fortunes to improve next season! On hearing of his 'elevation' in both senses, one young member of his congregation exclaimed proudly "our Vicar is going to be fired from a Cannon at Newcastle!"

Many thousands of pounds was raised for the ABF Current Operations Fund by this event on Snday 18th May, the fund opened specifically to help recently injured servicemen and women and their families.

The picture shows Padre Alan Hughes about to set off from high in the Gallowgate Stand and slide into the opposing goalmouth.