Our Victory Services Club employees have been busy supporting the local community through two volunteering projects arranged by Marble Arch BID.
🏫 A fresh start for Essendine Primary School
Our volunteers rolled up their sleeves to help prepare the school for the new term, repainting the sports hall and classroom, moving furniture, cleaning outdoor areas and tidying planters and grounds.
🎨 Getting creative with LDN London
Three VSC employees joined adults with learning disabilities at LDN London’s West Kilburn hub for a creative session painting colourful wildlife and carnival masks, while spending time socialising, sharing stories and making connections.
Members gather for Memorable Battle of Britain Dinner
Special guest speaker Steve Maddock brought history to life during an evening of remembrance, live music and fine dining at the VSC.
Members gathered on Tuesday evening, 15th September 2026, for the VSC’s Battle of Britain Dinner—an informative and memorable occasion commemorating one of the defining campaigns of the Second World War.
The themed event marked the 86th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, which was fought in the skies over Britain during the summer and autumn of 1940. Through courage, skill and the effective use of radar technology, the Royal Air Force successfully defended the country against the German Luftwaffe.
Guests enjoyed a specially prepared dining feast, with the food once again proving one of the highlights of the evening. Music was provided by military Royal British Legion band, Phil Willans and his saxophone quartet, whose performance helped create a fitting atmosphere for this special occasion.
The VSC was delighted to welcome Steve Maddock of the Battle of Britain Historical Society as the evening’s guest speaker. Steve provided a fascinating account of the campaign, explaining its history and significance while also sharing his family’s personal connection to the conflict.
His interest in the Battle of Britain was inspired by his uncle, Sgt A. J. Lipscombe of No. 600 Squadron, who served in the Royal Air Force and saw action during the Second World War.
Steve has been associated with the Battle of Britain Historical Society for several years and has served as a volunteer tour guide at both RAF Uxbridge and Bentley Priory. He also manages the Battle of Britain Monument on Victoria Embankment in London, overlooking the River Thames. The striking memorial commemorates those who took part in the campaign and honours their courage and contribution.
Steve’s knowledge and personal reflections gave members a deeper insight into the people behind this pivotal chapter of British history. His talk was a fitting centrepiece to an evening dedicated to remembrance, resilience and the extraordinary bravery of those who defended the nation.
Our thanks go to Steve Maddock, Phil Willans, his fellow musicians, and all the members who joined us for such a special occasion.
The Victory Services Club’s (VSC) Housekeeping Team has been named Housekeeping Team of the Year at the 2026 Triple ‘H’ Awards – The Hotel Housekeeping Honours.
Based near Marble Arch, VSC is a charity that supports serving and former members of the Armed Forces and their families, including through welfare and respite breaks. Income generated by its accommodation, meetings and events operation support this charitable work.
Organised by MEG Events Ltd in association with Housekeeping Today UK, the awards recognise excellence across the housekeeping profession. VSC’s 37-strong Housekeeping Team was originally nominated by an external supporter of the Club.
Led by Housekeeping Manager Tamara Pacochova, the team represents nine nationalities and has almost 200 years of combined service. The team looks after 200 bedrooms, as well as the Club’s restaurants, public areas, meeting rooms and event spaces. Its work supports approximately 90,000 overnight guests and more than 30,000 event delegates each year.
The award recognised the team’s consistently high standards, inclusive culture and commitment to developing colleagues. It also highlighted its resilience during a three-month refurbishment of its operational area, when the team worked from around 40% of its usual space while maintaining service with minimal disruption to guests and delegates.
Colin Francis CBE, Club Secretary and CEO of the Victory Services Club, said: “Tamara and the team bring such care, pride and dedication to everything they do, and it’s wonderful to see that recognised with this award. So much of their work happens behind the scenes, but the impact they have on the experience of our members, guests and delegates is evident every day.
Whether they’re helping to make an overnight stay feel special, supporting a busy conference or playing their part in a memorable event, they approach everything with warmth and professionalism. We’re incredibly proud of Tamara and the whole team, not only for the high standards they consistently deliver, but for the way they support one another and always go the extra mile.”
Mark Gleed, Director, MEG Events, said: “The HHH Awards were delighted to announce Victory Services Club as the winner of the Housekeeping Team of the Year. The judges remarked VSC stands out for exceptional loyalty, inclusion, resilience, and culture. The team demonstrated nearly 200 years’ combined service, strong Deaf Guard-supported inclusion, corridor-refurbishment resilience, internal development, powerful testimonials, and high guest praise. It was a deeply human, and operationally strong entry. Congratulations to the entire housekeeping team at Victory Services Club on this well-deserved achievement from all the team at the HHH.”
The win follows VSC retaining Hospitality Assured World Class status in 2026 with an overall score of 84.2%.
New Trustees bring valuable experience to support the VSC’s Charitable Mission
The Victory Services Club has welcomed two new trustees whose complementary experience will help it strengthen its commercial activities, reach more members of the Armed Forces community and expand its charitable support.
Heather Lishman and Air Vice-Marshal Tamara Jennings join a board that combines military knowledge with expertise from the legal, finance, hospitality, events, communications and marketing sectors. Both bring more than 30 years of experience in their respective fields, but from very different perspectives.
Heather is well known across the events industry through her work as Association Director of ABPCO, the Association of British Professional Conference Organisers. Her career has also included hotel and venue operations, sales, key account management, quality assessment and membership organisations.
This breadth of experience will be particularly valuable as the Club continues to develop its events business. Income generated through conferences, meetings, accommodation, food and beverage helps the Club keep its prices accessible for members and fund its charitable work.
Colin Francis CBE, Club Secretary and CEO of the Victory Services Club, said: “Heather’s appointment is a major coup for the Club. She brings more than 30 years of events experience and an exceptional understanding of the association sector.
“She will bring a knowledgeable and critical eye to our events business, helping us identify new opportunities, improve what we already do and reach a broader range of clients. The better we perform commercially, the more we can do from a charitable perspective.”
Air Vice-Marshal Tamara Jennings brings extensive senior leadership experience from a distinguished career in the Royal Air Force. A former Director of Legal Services and head of the RAF Legal Branch, she also has connections across all three Armed Forces and the wider defence community.
Her knowledge and networks will help the Club communicate with serving RAF personnel around the world, as well as veterans and their families. This will support efforts to ensure more eligible people know about the Club, the benefits of membership and the charitable help available to them.
Colin added: “Tamara understands the RAF from the inside and knows how to reach its different communities. Her connections extend beyond the RAF into the wider defence community, and she will help us raise awareness of the Club among both serving personnel and veterans.”
The appointments come as the Club looks to build on a record year for its charitable programme. During the 12 months to the end of March, it delivered 307 Respite & Welfare and Reward & Recognition Breaks for members of the serving Armed Forces community and their families.
These breaks can provide vital time away for people experiencing bereavement, serious illness, injury or other challenging circumstances. They typically include accommodation for the whole family, meals and tickets to a London attraction, removing everyday pressures and giving families the opportunity to spend valuable time together and create lasting memories.
Having achieved its previous ambitions for the programme, the Club now wants to increase its support and begin extending appropriate provision into the veteran community.
Heather and Tamara will contribute to that goal in different but connected ways: Heather by helping the Club strengthen the commercial income that makes its charitable work possible, and Tamara by helping it reach more people across the serving and veteran communities.
Colin said: “What has impressed me most is the passion Heather and Tamara have both shown for our charitable work. They understand the difference these breaks can make and are keen to help us extend that support to more military families.
“All our trustees are volunteers. They give an enormous amount of their own time, alongside their professional and family commitments, to support the charity. Heather and Tamara bring fresh perspectives and considerable experience, but they will also be involved in every aspect of the Club as we plan for its future.”
Together, their appointments strengthen the balance of skills on the board and will help the Victory Services Club continue evolving while keeping its members and charitable purpose at the heart of every decision.
We are pleased to announce that our new Members’ Changing Room is now open and available for use.
The facility provides members with a dedicated and practical space to change when their bedrooms are not yet ready for occupancy.
Located on the second floor, opposite Room 251, it replaces the former changing room, previously located on the ground-floor in the guest lift lobby area.
The Changing Room is available for those arriving before their room is ready, preparing for an event, or needing somewhere convenient to change during their visit.
We hope members will find this new facility useful.
We were delighted to welcome Patricia Keppie to the VSC today for a very special Club Secretary’s Lunch.
Patricia recently retired from her role with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), where she volunteered as Public Engagement Coordinator for Scotland, helping to raise awareness of the Commission’s important work and the stories of those it commemorates.
Her connection to the CWGC is also deeply personal. Patricia’s interest in its work stems from her own family history, with 11 members of her family buried across seven different countries, including Australia, France, Belgium, Turkey and Egypt.
We were delighted to have Patricia with us and to hear about her ongoing commitment to the work of the CWGC. Patricia continues to share its important work and stories with others, regularly speaking to schools and cadet groups and helping to ensure that the legacy of those commemorated by the Commission is passed on to future generations.
The CWGC offers free talks and cemetery tours across the country. These are delivered by dedicated volunteers who give their time without receiving expenses and take great satisfaction in knowing that their efforts inspire people to arrange events and support the cause. Although all talks and tours are free, donations to the Commonwealth War Graves Foundation are warmly welcomed and can be made through its website.
If you would like to organise a talk or tour for your interest group, please contact the CWGC directly. Enquiries: foundation.cwgc.org
How my Family Connection Influenced my Work at the CWGC
Patricia Keppie
It’s always been a bit of a running joke in my family that I have been preparing for my role at the CWGC nearly my whole life. When I was growing up my family and I spent a lot of holidays and weekends visiting cemeteries. My father and his cousin were always very interested in our family history, and having an unusual surname makes it much easier to searchwar recordsand establish connections. My grandfather on the Keppie side and his brothers, whom I never met, all served in the First World War.
Patricia’s great uncle James
The first time I encountered the CWGC was when I discovered that my Great-Uncle James was buried in Turkey at theLancashire Landing Cemetery, having died while serving as a stretcher-bearer in the Gallipoli campaign. I will probably never know how he came to do that particular job, which I feel must have required considerable courage.
As I was growing up, my family and I made a lasting connection with the Australian branch of our family, descended from those who had emigrated there in the 1830s. I then found out more about Arthur Ernest Keppie, from New South Wales, who also died at Gallipoli fighting with the ANZAC forces. He is commemorated at the Lone Pine Memorial.
In my more immediate family, two of my grandfather’s first cousins fought in the First World War. Peter was with the Royal Scots and was wounded at the Somme and died at home on 10th July 1916. His photograph, below, always makes me feel I’d like to have known him. But at least I can visit his grave, which is inNewington Cemetery in Edinburgh. His story typifies those of the 21,000 casualties we look after in Scotland, which makes it very easy for me to tell people about them in my work.
I didn’t know much about Peter’s brother, John, until I was able to visit his grave inOrival Wood, Flesquieres, in France in October 2018. I believe I must have been the first family member to visit there in 100 years. John died on 1st October 1918, and the inscription on his headstone says, “Ever Remembered”, and he is.
Coincidentally, our local paper, the Edinburgh Evening News, featured John’s photograph on the front page of its 10th/11th November 2018 issue, as a reminder that, during the Great War, they published similar photos every single day.
The family connection continues in France with the grave of Walter Barrie Keppie, a more distant cousin, who was only 21 when he was killed. He was a cyclist, going up and down the lines taking messages, serving with the Northumberland Fusiliers. He is buried at another of our very small cemeteries in the French countryside, Albuera, Bailleul-sire-Berthoult.
My connections with the CWGC completely coincided in 2019, when I visited Shetland to give a talk in schools. I knew that Robert John Keppie, another distant cousin, had moved from Edinburgh to Lerwick as a young man; had served with McCrae’s Battalion, and was commemorated on a panel at Tyne Cot. He was lost at the 3rd Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele), and his wife, with four children, had to wait many months before his death was confirmed.
As I was about to give my talk, an audience member came to introduce himself and informed me that he was Robert’s grandson – my sixth cousin. A perfect synergy of work, family and history.
Robert John Keppie
This is only one quarter of my family heritage, so there is a lot more to explore yet like Charles Browning Keppie buried inSt. Sever Cemetery in Rouen, two Australian relatives, and Roderick Keppie, an apprentice golf club maker, who died in Liverpool of fever, having served on the Western Front and in Mesopotamia.
Working for the CWGC has given me a whole new insight into my history and has helped me find out things about my family I would have never known otherwise.
The Victory Services Club’s Sales and Marketing Team has been named a finalist for Sales and Marketing Team of the Year at the 2026 miaList Awards.
The seven-person team has delivered an exceptional year for the Club, increasing events revenue by 26.9% and achieving 129% of its revenue target. It handled 950 enquiries, delivered 553 events and maintained a 40% conversion rate, while 85% of bookings came from repeat customers.
The team has also transformed the Club’s marketing activity. Website users increased by 171%, social media engagement rose by 201% and digital content generated more than 4.8 million views.
Colin Francis CBE, CEO and Club Secretary of the Victory Services Club, said: “Our Sales and Marketing Team has delivered the best event sales in the Club’s history, and being named a miaList finalist is thoroughly deserved recognition of its hard work, creativity and commitment.
“What makes these results particularly meaningful is that every event held at the Club supports our charitable work. The team’s success helped us provide a record 214 Respite & Welfare Breaks for serving personnel, veterans and their families during 2025/26. It is a wonderful example of commercial success creating a direct and positive social impact.”
The miaList Awards celebrate the outstanding individuals and teams helping to raise standards across the UK’s business meetings and events industry.
Remembrance Weekend is always a highlight of the year at the VSC. Alongside the national commemorations, the Club provides a convenient meeting place in London for friends and former colleagues, many of whom return each November. The weekend brings together members of all generations, from regular visitors to those making a special journey to mark a particular anniversary or occasion.
This year, our newly refurbished 1907 Bar will be the setting for the weekend’s gatherings. Following his popular performances in previous years, Adam Christopher-Rhys will return, with guest singer, to provide Saturday evening’s entertainment. There will also be plenty of opportunity for conversation and catching up throughout the evening.
Members mentioned last year how much they valued time to catch up with old friends and former colleagues after the march and lunches on Remembrance Sunday. With this in mind, there will be no entertainment in the 1907 Bar on Sunday, giving everyone the chance to enjoy a drink, share stories and spend time together without interruption.
As the Club is likely to be very busy throughout the weekend, we strongly recommend that anyone wishing to dine with us books the Club Restaurant in advance. On Sunday, breakfast service will begin earlier than usual to accommodate members and guests attending Remembrance events and parades across London. Full details of dining options and service times will be communicated closer to the date.
CEO and Club Secretary, Colin Francis CBE, adds: “These informal gatherings at the VSC are an important part of Remembrance Weekend, bringing together members, families and friends from across the Club community. I look forward to welcoming as many of you as possible over the course of the weekend.”
“A story about Nepal; but more than that, a story about people. “
— Hari Budha Magar MBE
Join us at the VSC, for an inspiring evening with Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Fenn exploring an extraordinary journey across Nepal unlike any other.
📍 Friday, 16th October 2026
🕛 18:00-20:00 (to include arrival drinks of Prosecco, bottled beer and soft drinks)
🎟️ Tickets £20 per person
Please note: Tickets for this event are on sale now and must be booked directly on the Ticket Source website. They are not available for purchase from the VSC. All ticket sale proceeds will be equally shared between the VSC Charity (including support towards fully funded Respite & Welfare Breaks for serving personnel) and the The Gurkha Welfare Trust Nepal.
In 2023, before taking up his appointment as Field Director of The Gurkha Welfare Trust Nepal, Johnny set out to walk the length of Nepal from west to east – entirely on foot, without a map, and relying solely on the people he met along the way.
Over 114 days and nearly 2,000 kilometres, he crossed remote hill districts, river valleys and mountain ridgelines, sleeping in a tent, staying with local families, and experiencing a side of Nepal rarely seen by outsiders.
What began as an adventure soon became something much deeper. Travelling at walking pace opened doors to conversations and friendships that would never have happened from the window of a vehicle. Along the way, Johnny encountered extraordinary generosity, resilience and humour from people living in some of the most remote communities in the country.
Illustrated with stunning photography and personal stories from the trek, this presentation brings to life the landscapes, cultures and communities of Nepal through the eyes of someone who spent four months immersed in them.
Part travel story, part adventure, and part reflection on what really matters in life, The Nepali Way: 114 Days Crossing Nepal Without a Map is a fascinating account of a journey measured not in miles, but in people.
Whether you have a military connection, an interest in Nepal and the Gurkhas, a love of travel, or simply enjoy hearing stories of remarkable human experiences, this promises to be an entertaining and thought-provoking evening.
Drawing on material from his forthcoming book, The Nepali Way: 114 Days Crossing Nepal Without a Map , Johnny will share photographs, stories, challenges, lessons learned, and the unforgettable people who made the journey possible.
About the Author
Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Fenn served 25 years in the British Army, including 16 with the Brigade of Gurkhas. An explorer and professional photographer specialising in adventure and expedition work, he walked the length of Nepal in 2023; 114 days and 1,400 miles from Baitadi to Taplejung without a map…raising £50,000 for the Gurkha Welfare Trust.
His earlier book Light and Life in the Middle Hills captured life in the hills; The Nepali Way now tells the full story of that extraordinary trek, the people he met, and the landscapes that shaped it.
Johnny is currently Field Director of the Gurkha Welfare Trust in Nepal.
Victory Services Club CEO and Club Secretary, Colonel Colin Francis CBE, is the latest guest on The Veteran Voice, where he joins host Mike Davis-Marks OBE to discuss his distinguished military career, his transition from Army service to civilian life, and his focus on supporting the Armed Forces community in his role at the VSC.
During the interview, Colin reflects on joining the Army at just 16 years old and serving for 36 years, including operational tours in the Gulf, the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan. He also shares leadership lessons gained throughout his career, discusses the challenges many veterans face when leaving the Armed Forces, and explains why the skills developed through military service continue to be so highly valued beyond the military.
The conversation also shines a spotlight on the work of the Victory Services Club and its mission to support serving personnel, veterans and their families. While the VSC is well known for its welcoming accommodation and dining facilities, Colin emphasises that the Club is, first and foremost, a charity. He highlights the Club’s Respite & Welfare Breaks programme, which provides vital support to members of the Armed Forces community, demonstrating the VSC’s enduring commitment to those who serve, and those who have served.
The episode offers members an engaging insight into Colin’s personal journey, his approach to leadership, and the important role the Victory Services Club continues to play in supporting the wider Armed Forces community.
We hope members will enjoy watching the full episode of The Veteran Voice to hear Colin’s story and learn more about the work and charitable mission of the Victory Services Club. To do so, please click on the video link below.
Yesterday, more than 130 members and guests gathered at the Victory Services Club for our Summer Lunch, marking 44 years since the Falklands Conflict.
Guests enjoyed an exceptional meal prepared by our award-winning chefs, followed by compelling first-hand accounts from two distinguished speakers who experienced the conflict from different perspectives—at sea and on land.
Photo above left to right: Sergeant Thomas ‘Tom’ Herring and Major General Jeff Mason MBE RM
Major General Jeff Mason MBE RM
In April 1982, Jeff Mason, then a young Royal Marines Lieutenant, was recalled from Lympstone to rejoin HMS INTREPID and sailed south with the Task Force.
He took part in the landings at San Carlos Water, deployed ashore as a watchkeeper, commanded landing craft—including a foray to West Falkland—and assisted in securing the surrender at Fox Bay/Port Howard, before returning to the UK with a more realistic and mature perspective on life.
Sergeant Thomas ‘Tom’ Herring, Parachute Regiment
In April 1982, Sergeant Tom Herring was serving with 3 PARA’s Training Wing when he was placed on immediate notice and deployed south with the Task Force.
On arrival, he commanded a composite platoon protecting Battalion HQ and supported rifle companies in defence and attack, including the battle for Mount Longdon. The experience left him with enduring memories of the cost of war, the courage of his comrades, and great pride in having fought for British territory alongside the “class of ’82.”
Their candid reflections conveyed the courage and resilience of those who served, the human cost of war and the lasting effect of their experiences.
We were also delighted to welcome many Falklands Veterans, whose presence added special significance to the occasion and gave everyone an opportunity to recognise their service. Those who attended left with a deeper understanding of the conflict and renewed respect for all who served in this conflict.
Our sincere thanks go to Major General Jeff Mason MBE RM and Sergeant Tom Herring for sharing their stories, and to everyone who joined us for the event.
Pictured above, from left to right: Andy Williams, Mark Field, Lionel Gresham, Andy Jackson MBE and Peter Mawer.
Artwork with a special connection to the Falklands Conflict has been donated to the Victory Services Club by the Royal Marines Association Portsmouth.
The print originally belonged to Peter Mawer, who sailed to the Falklands aboard SS Canberra in 1982 and returned with 3 Commando Brigade. More recently, Peter donated the artwork to a Royal Navy and Royal Marines children’s charity event organised by Andy Jackson MBE, where it was acquired at auction by Lionel Gresham.
Having stayed regularly at the VSC over the years, Lionel has always been impressed by the remarkable collection of military artwork and photographs displayed throughout the Club. So it seemed only fitting that a print with such a strong connection to the Royal Marines, and one of the most significant chapters in recent British military history, should join that collection.
Together with the Royal Marines Association Portsmouth, Lionel was therefore delighted to formally present the artwork to General Manager, Mark Field, at the VSC, where it can be enjoyed by serving personnel, veterans, members and visitors for many years to come.
The SS Canberra and the Falklands
Requisitioned by the British Government in April 1982, the passenger liner SS Canberra was rapidly converted into a troopship and sailed south as part of the British Task Force. Nicknamed the “Great White Whale” because of her distinctive white hull, Canberra carried thousands of troops to the South Atlantic and played an important role in the landings at San Carlos Water on 21st May 1982.
Following the Argentine surrender on 14th June 1982, Canberra was used to transport Argentine prisoners of war before embarking British forces for the journey home. Her return to Southampton in July 1982 became one of the enduring images associated with the homecoming of British forces from the Falklands.
The donation to the VSC ensures that this print – and the remarkable personal story that accompanies it – will remain a lasting reminder of SS Canberra and all those who served during the Falklands Conflict.
