Press Release
3 November 2009
Ref: 1333/09
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Gary Lineker and Johnson Beharry VC join David Cameron to launch Tickets for Troops
Gary Lineker and Lance Corporal Johnson Beharry VC join David Cameron today at The O2 to launch Tickets for Troops, a new initiative which offers the Armed Forces free tickets to big events including football matches and top music acts.
Thousands of tickets will be made available to all serving military personnel and to veterans who have been discharged through injury since 2001, at the new Tickets for Troops website.
Since July 2009, when David Cameron announced his ambition for this scheme, Tickets for Troops has been set up as an independent not for profit company that will help us start giving something back to our troops. It has received huge support from the sports and entertainment worlds . Today’s launch has kindly been funded by AEG/The O2, who have also donated a large number of tickets.
Tickets have been donated for top football and cricket matches, boxing contests, snooker, horse-racing events, theatre, and both classic and rock music concerts around the country.
From today these tickets will be made available exclusively to eligible personnel at www.ticketsfortroops.org.uk, which has teamed up with top ticket distributor www.seetickets.com. A donation of £1 will be requested for every ticket, which will be distributed across service charities.
Patrons include singer Joss Stone, cricketer Sir Ian Botham, singer, James Blunt, actress Joanna Lumley, Dame Vera Lynn, ex England player and Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker, and ex-England rugby captain Lawrence Dallaglio.
Commenting on the launch, Tickets for Troops Patron, Gary Lineker said: “As a country we seem to have suddenly gained a respect and a pride in our armed forces, which in many ways, is long overdue. Tickets for Troops recognises these very special people for the extraordinary things they do every day of their lives.”
Lance Corporal Johnson Beharry, awarded the VC for his courageous acts in Iraq, added: “This is a fantastic idea and it is heartening and uplifting for any serving soldier or ex soldier to know that people really appreciate the work they do and this is a brilliant way of demonstrating respect for our Armed Forces.”
David Cameron said: “Ticket for Troops is all about people coming together to say to the armed forces: thank you, we respect you and we recognise the sacrifice you are making for us. I’m proud of the part the Conservative Party has played in getting this off the ground and want to thank everyone for generously lending their time and support to this great cause.”
ENDS
For further information, please contact Sue Beeby on 07838 160292 or Raleigh Addington at Tickets for Troops on 07809 609529
Notes to Editors
∙ Tickets for Troops is a politically neutral and independent organisation. Based on an idea from David Cameron it will operate as a company limited by guarantee and be run by a fully independent board. From launch, Tickets for Troops will have no formal link to the Conservative Party and its main activity will be to provide free tickets to serving members of the military.
∙ Eligible personnel should apply online from 3rd November through the Tickets for Troops website www.ticketsfortroops.org.uk
∙ A donation of £1 per ticket is requested from applicants and will be given to service charities .
Directors
Jonathan Marland – Chairman, Tickets for Troops
Jonathan Mervis - Director, Tickets for Troops
Charlotte Crosswell – Director, Tickets for Troops
∙ The Advisory Board
Frank Warren - Boxing Promoter
Stuart Higgins – Managing Director, Stuart Higgins Communications
Nick Allott – Managing Director, Cameron Mackintosh
Sir Peter Norriss – Air Marshal (retired)
Gary Lydiate – CEO Kilfrost Group plc
David Wall - Secretary to the Midlands Industrial Council
David Campbell – Chief Executive, AEG Europe, owners and operators of The O2’
David Joseph – Chairman, Universal Music UK
Nick Blackburn – Chairman, See Tickets
∙ Patrons
Joss Stone
Gavin Hastings
James Blunt
David Whelan – Chairman, Wigan Athletic Club
Joanna Lumley
Bruce Buck - Chairman, Chelsea FC
Bob Edminston
General Sir Mike Jackson
Sir Anthony Bamford , Chairman of JCB
Lance Corporal Johnson Beharry VC
Sir Ian Botham, Former England Test Cricketer
Dame Vera Lynn
Sir Cameron Mackintosh, Leading British Theatre Producer
Gary Lineker – BBC Sports Broadcaster and Former English Int’l Footballer
Lawrence Dallaglio, ex England rugby captain
∙ Tickets
Support for Tickets for Troops has come from clubs, venues and promoters across the spectrum. The list below is a taster and not comprehensive.
Universal Music Group
Cameron Mackintosh
Adam Spiegel – Theatre producer
Rupert Gavin - Odeon cinemas
X Factor
Joss Stone
Katherine Jenkins
Hammersmith Apollo
The Football Association
Arsenal FC
Aston Villa FC
Blackburn Rovers FC
Burnley FC
Chelsea FC
Everton FC
Manchester United FC
Tottenham Hotspur FC
West Ham United FC
Wigan Athletic FC
England Rugby Squad
Gloucester Rugby
Middlesex Charity Sevens
Lancashire County Cricket Club
Marylebone County Cricket Club
Surrey County Cricket Club
Glamorgan County Cricket Club
Warwickshire County Cricket Club
Durham County Cricket Club
Frank Warren Promotions
British Athletics
Olympics
The O2 arena
Riley’s Pool
Cheltenham Racecourse
World Snooker
Lawn Tennis Association
Aberdeen FC
Tennis Scotland
Scottish FA Chief Executive Gordon Smith is supporting
Rangers FC
Falkirk Football Club
Chief Executive of Cricket Scotland
Heart of Midlothian Football Club
∙ SEE tickets one of the UK’s largest online ticketing distributers have created the Tickets for Troops website, and manage the platform at cost. They have also provided office space for T4T in their premises in Soho Square.
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Stephen Naylor
Regional Press Officer - North | The Conservative Party
t: 01274 363 002 | m: 07967 322 015 | e: stephen.naylor@conservatives.com
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