Last month, we launched a brand new fundraising campaign to support our virtual Veterans’ Programme, a series of lectures and activities designed to replace the 2020 Summer Excavation postponed due to coronavirus. The 2.6 Challenge – which involves doing 2.6, 26 or 260 of anything at all to raise money – was designed to help struggling UK charities raise much needed funds in a period where mass gatherings and fundraising events have had to be cancelled. Over the last few weeks, the Waterloo Uncovered community have taken on a range of creative and active 2.6 challenges, from sketching to cycling to dressing up! We’re so grateful for all the support we’ve received so far, both from those who have taken on challenges for us and from those who have donated. With your help, we’ve managed to raise an amazing amount so far – over £7,000!
But we still need your help. It costs around £3,000 per beneficiary to run our Virtual Veterans’ and Serving Personnel Programme, and to provide continued support from our Welfare Team throughout the year. So far, your generosity has funded the participation of 2 veterans on the Virtual Programme. To raise vital funds to support more of our veteran participants, we’re taking on one final challenge!
Thursday the 18th of June is the fifth anniversary of Waterloo Uncovered, and the 205th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo. So what better day to finish our 2.6 Challenge campaign with a bang? On the 18th, a group of veterans, serving personnel, WU staff and community members will be completing a marathon 26 mile march in support of Waterloo Uncovered. Each team member will be taking on at least 2.6 miles, and we’ll be marching across multiple countries, including the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands and the USA! To support us through the coronavirus crisis and allow us to continue our important work, please consider donating whatever you can in support of our march. You can donate here:
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/2point6waterloouncovered
The last 2.6 miles of the march will be carried out by Coldstream Guards 1815 reenactor and friend of WU Clive Jones, in his full period accurate Coldstream Guards uniform. Clive will finish off the challenge at his local war memorial at 18:15pm. Read on to find out what motivates Clive to support us…
Clive Jones
Clive has been a steadfast supporter of Waterloo Uncovered since the beginning of the project. His lifelong passion for history led him to consider a career in archaeology, but his interest in the Army eventually won out, resulting in 14 years of service with the Welsh Guards. The Guards are a regiment steeped in history and tradition, and by the time he left the army, his interest in military history hadn’t waned – if anything, it had grown. Missing the comradeship of the army, Clive decided to enter the world of re-enacting, focussing specifically on the Napoleonic period. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to join a group dedicated to his own regiment, as the Welsh Guards were formed 100 years after the Battle of Waterloo. Instead, he joined the Coldstream Guards 1915 group. Clive says his experience in the army proved useful in the world of re-enactment, too: it was his ability to shout loudly that got him promoted to Lance Corporal within his first season of re-enacting! The only way was up from there, and Clive has been running the Coldstream Guards 1815 group for the last 9 years.
Clive first came across Waterloo Uncovered in 2015. The Coldstream Guards 1815 had developed a good relationship with the real Coldstream Guards regiment over the years, and they were invited to accompany the regiment on a battlefield tour of Waterloo during the 200th anniversary celebrations. The re-enactment group gave a series of demonstrations of period weaponry to the regiment and visitors, and were even invited to take part in a television programme with Waterloo Uncovered co-founder Major Charles Foinette and Sharpe star Sean Bean! After seeing the first year of Waterloo Uncovered’s excavation at Hougoumont, and hearing our plans for future years, Clive was fascinated by the project, and says that for him, it “ticked all the boxes”. The combination of archaeological investigation to uncover the secrets of the battlefield and therapy for army veterans hit two major areas of interest for Clive, and he saw the value in both elements of our work.
Since seeing the project in action, Clive has offered his services to Waterloo Uncovered whenever possible. Clive and the Coldstream Guards 1815 have performed at our Open Days at Hougoumont, attended the Great Game at Glasgow University in 2019, and have accompanied us to Chalke Valley History festival, where they have engaged the public in our work by bringing the archaeology to life in full kit and costume. When he was asked to take part in our 2.6 Challenge, he jumped at the chance.
“Waterloo Uncovered is unique in that it is like more like an extended family than an organisation, and it brings together people from a wide background, and all walks of life who all have a common interest in the rehabilitation of military veterans through archaeology at the highest level. Through this aim, they have not only helped veterans but have also re-written what is known about the Waterloo Battlefield. I’m happy to do anything I can do to support their valuable work and help fellow veterans.”
Will you support Clive and the rest of the team ahead of their final march for Waterloo Uncovered on the 18th of June? Please donate to our fundraiser to allow us to continue supporting veterans’ and uncovering the secrets of the battlefield of Waterloo.