CHRISTMAS is coming and thoughts inevitably turn to buying presents, Christmas shopping, family and friends. For the 400 Coldstream Guards in Afghanistan there is no late night shopping, no turning on of the Christmas lights and cups of Christmas cheer are few and far between. Mr and Mrs Lascelles, of Hatherleigh, want to give something back to the soldiers ? but they need help. After the success of ?Surprise Supplies,? a scheme run by one of their friends, they are organising Christmas parcels to be sent to the Coldstream Guards. They said: ?Some of the young men and women out there have no family to send them a present. ?We are all aware of the disagreeable circumstances these soldiers are working in and this seems to be a small way of acknowledging what they do on our behalf. ?Surprise Supplies is a scheme thought up by a friend of ours. Her son was in the Grenadier Guards, serving in Afghanistan this past year. She organised the sending of a parcel to each and every one of the Guardsmen who was serving there. ?We would like to do the same for the Coldstream Guards, of whom more than 400 are in Afghanistan at the moment. In time, we hope this scheme can be rolled out to embrace regiments in a theatre of war. ?We have no doubt that the pleasure for the recipient will far outweigh the cost and effort involved.? For anyone who would like to help there are a series of instructions. Each parcel must not exceed 2kg in weight, as this means postage is free, and no more than £10 is to be spent on any one parcel, although it is possible to send more than one. The Lascelles added: ?If you would like to send a parcel, please send, phone or email your address to: Susie Lascelles or Rupert Lascelles, The Old Station House, Hatherleigh, Okehampton, EX20 3LF, by phone on 01837 810 928 or by e-mail to [email protected]">[email protected] ?You will need a big strong jiffy bag and we will send you a label with the name of your soldier on it plus a list to help you think of things to but in the parcel. All you need to do after that is fill the bag, attach the label and take it to the post office.?
