The first Heroes Welcome scheme was launched in 2008 by the North Yorkshire resort town of Scarborough,[1] it began as a simple reaction to the growing number of negative news reports regarding the poor treatment of service personnel by some in the community.
The first posters were handmade by the staff of the Golden Grid Fish Restaurant and displayed with the help of the owner John Senior MBE TD, a retired Army Officer who had himself seen active service in Afghanistan during 2001/2002.
By June 2008 over 250 local businesses had joined up to the scheme, membership proved to be diverse ranging across political and socio economic boundaries, early members included the South Beach Donkey concession, New York Times best selling author the Reverend G.P Taylor and Stephen Joseph Theatre in the Round, home to the acclaimed British playwright Sir Alan Ayckbourn .
In order to address this issue an advisory group was formed and under the guidance of Lieutenant Colonel Toby Gray the then Commanding Officer of the Coldstream Guards a set of guidelines were drawn up to ensure that the scheme was appropriate and focused towards the Junior Ranks.
A full listing of Heroes Welcome Member Communities is published below (correct at 8 December 2011) The Boroughs of: Beeston[9] Beverley, Blackpool, Bootle, Bassetlaw District Council, Bournemouth[10] Bridlington, Brighton,[11] Bury St Edmonds, Chesterfield[12] Cobham, Cranleigh, Dorchester, Downham, Ellesmere, Elmbridge, Ether, Farnham, Filey, Formby, Godalming, Great Yarmouth,[13] Godmanchester, Guildford[14] Guisborough, Haslemere, Herriot Country, Hove,[11] Hull City Council, Hunstanton, Huntingdon,[15] Kings Lynn, Kirkham, Lewes, London Taxis,[16] Malton, Middlesbrough,[17] Newhaven, Newhaven Fort, Oykel Regions, Pickering, Portland, Ramsey, Royal Wootton Bassett, Sandringham, Seaford, Scarborough, Southport, St Ives, St Neots, Stirling, Stockport, Swanage, Walton-on-Thames, Watton, Weston-super-Mare, Whitby, Weybridge, Weymouth, Woodbridge, Worthing, York, Hampshire,[8] North Yorkshire.
The small amount of funding required for the cost of central administration (approximately £3,000/4,000 per year) is raised through private donations and the sale of G. P. Taylor's Mariah Mundi and the Midas Box series of novels.
A film version of the first book[19] The Midas Box is now in production the cast includes, Sam Neill, Aneurin Barnard, Lena Headey, Ioan Gruffudd and Michael Sheen as Charity.
Session: 2008–09 Date tabled: 3 June 2009 Primary sponsor: Robert Goodwill, Sponsors: John Grogan, Lindsay Hoyle, Mark Lancaster, Bob Russell, Nicholas Soames, That this House applauds the initiative of over 500 businesses in Scarborough that have already joined the Heroes Welcome scheme; notes that participants offer visiting service personnel special acknowledgement and discounts at hotels, restaurants and other service or retail firms; and calls on other towns and cities around the country to follow Scarborough's lead and join Heroes Welcome UK in order to give support, quiet recognition and a little extra hospitality as a way of showing gratitude to armed forces personnel and their families.
Filter EDMs by: Total number of signatures: 57[21] Article February 2011 Report: Sharon Kean Picture: Graeme Main FROM the modest beginning of a hand-drawn poster in the window of a Scarborough restaurant, a scheme encouraging local communities to show their gratitude for the Armed Forces has quickly evolved to become a nationwide network.
"You can say thanks to a fireman or police officer at the scene but for Servicemen and women who do their work over the hills and far away, it's harder," explained John Senior, the retired TA major-turned-restaurateur who launched the scheme in his home town two years ago.