Sergeant Slingsby was despatched to Devon to support the fundraising Golf Day organised by the 3 Royal Tank Regiment Golf Society.
I eventually arrived in Devon, unfortunately missing my first appointment due to the postal run - much to the disappointment of the crowds that were waiting for me. The appointment should have been a visit to South Devon Railway and a trip on the Steam Train for a piece for the local paper. Still, my host Trooper Fear stood in for me and did a cracking job. Not bad for an ex- tankie, although he was later arrested for bearing all to a local bobby.
Staying in Devon was a bit of an eye opener, as I had heard rumours that it was a bit behind the times down here but never expected that the trains were still Steam and the latest craze was a thing called a Penny Farthing.
Tpr Fear (or Burt as he is known by his Bearer) introduced me to his friends, and I helped him stag on and guard them in the evening. One bunny was very friendly and was more than happy to listen to my adventures and travel stories.
After a bit of quad biking in the morning we then took a trip to the local museum, Bygones, who had some cracking military memorabilia and will also be collecting for our cause in the future.
The day was finished off with a trip to the recently-saved D-Day slipways used to launch local boats to rescue the trapped troops.
Then it was on to the BIG EVENT - the first annual holidays4heroes golf day arranged by the 3RTR Golf Society. There was a fine turn out with 44 players and the weather was gorgeous. I was looked after by Tpr Fear and his twin brother Tpr Naught who had popped down from North Devon for the day. I have a strange feeling I have met them somewhere before!
It didn't take long to establish golf was not my game:
1) My paws could not grasp the clubs
2) My feet couldn't reach the pedals on the buggy, so crashed one
3) I kept getting stuck in the bunkers (reminded me of my days in the sandy place)
4) Kept getting stuck in the rough
So instead I decided to travel around with my Bearer and do a spot of marshalling.
Now I have travelled a bit and been to various war zones, but I have never heard such foul language. I can't believe that a little white ball can cause so many expletives, especially when landing in the water, sand and rough - which apparently are bad things.
Another reason golf reminded me of my previous travels are that, as on an Army exercise, you have lots of funnily dressed men wandering around in the woods - it's the same with golf.
Finally the presentations, auction and raffle wound up a very successful day. There were lots of positive comments and players rebooking for next year's event. As you can see the Blunty's Bandit prize went down well.
Total raised ( including an auction earlier in the year) was £3700.
So thanks for everyone who supported the event and the next one is booked for 16 October 2010.
[Ed: Sincere thanks from Hols4H to the Ashbury Hotel Golf Club for their very generous support for this event, and of course to the 3RTR golfers for their efforts in putting this all together. A truly GREAT result.]
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Holidays 4 Heroes is an informal group of people that assists wounded service personnel and their families get a precious break from the routine of rehab, hospital appointments and visits to welfare offices by facilitating holidays away from it all in accommodation donated by our sponsors in the UK and abroad. 
Deals with the cases that either lie outside the normal remit of the main Service Charities, or require a faster response than they can usually provide. Sometimes the cases require financial assistance, a little bit of nudging in the right direction for long-term help, or the application of a bit of expertise.