After a course of nearly 300 miles, the peloton will finish the course with a flourish along the Champs-Elysées, closed to traffic by Paris police for the occasion, to arrive at its destination, the Arc de Triomphe, on Sunday afternoon.

"I'm really looking forward to testing myself, I hear it can be pretty gruelling," said Mr Taylor, 66, who took over the highest managerial job in English football in 1990. "I'm confident that I will finish the ride - I'm already looking forward to the champagne at the Arc de Triomphe!"

For the first time this year, the event is being sponsored by Danone Actimel, the probiotic drinking yogurt. Actimel Senior Brand Manager, Rob Bayne said, "Everyone at Actimel believes this is a worthy cause and a great challenge, so much so that several of us are taking part."

Graham Taylor added, "It's fantastic that this year's ride is sponsored by Actimel. I drink Actimel every morning and have taken a good supply with me to see me through the entire ride."

The charity ride aims to raise £500,000 for The Royal British Legion Battle Back Challenge Centre, which will provide injured Service personnel with adaptive sports and adventure training when it opens in 2012.

A long time supporter of The Royal British Legion, Graham Taylor said the bike ride "promises to be both challenging and rewarding -- and knowing that it will raise funds for the Battle Back Centre is reward enough for me." Mr Taylor added, "The Legion is such a worthy cause and the work they do is so important at the moment, what with events in Afghanistan".

Russell Thompson OBE, The Royal British Legion's Director of National Events and Fundraising, said: "We are delighted to have Graham Taylor on board for this year's ride. He is such a character, I'm sure he will bring a lot of colour to the ride."

Seen by many in the cycling world as the best event of its kind, the ride is escorted along the entire route by police outriders. Finishing eventually at the Arc de Triomphe, which along with the Champs-Elysées is closed to traffic especially for the Legion's riders. The only other cycling event that receives this honour is the Tour de France.

To sponsor Graham Taylor text: 'Graham' to 70222, text messages cost £3 plus standard network charges or visit www.justgiving.com/grahamtaylor

The concert is in aid of this year's Royal Air Force Association's Battle of Britain Wings Appeal, Afghan Heroes and The Royal British Legion and has been organised by 17-year-old Chris Hartland, an air cadet with 495 (Sutton Coldfield) Squadron Air Training Corps.

Commemorating 'The Few' who fought in the Battle of Britain and also to remember that there are soldiers, airmen and sailors who are fighting to protect our country and its interests today, the RAF Regiment Band will play a variety of songs including Glenn Miller big band arrangements.

Tickets are £12 for adults and £10 concession (over 60 & under 14) and are available from the Town Hall Box Office on 0845 111 2900.

Chris has found that two local young men were involved in the Battle of Britain -  William Machin and Leonard Garvey.

Garvey, was a spitfire pilot who was shot down and killed after only being with his squadron for 20 days. He was 26 years old he is buried in Witton Cemetery, Birmingham.

Machin was a gunner in a Defiant aircraft. He was shot down and died of his wounds, his pilot survived. Machin had been with his Squadron 2 days and was only 20 years old. He is buried in Handsworth cemetery, Birmingham.

He found out about these young men via the Battle of Britain Historic Society who have a list of graves that need adopting to perpetuate the memory of the Few and his cadet squadron have informally adopted these graves and tend them  throughout the year and remember their sacrifice.

The art work is the result of a design competition for local students and will form a central focal point at Byng House, the Legion's Poppy Break Centre in Southport, Merseyside.

Read the press release here and contact Manager Pam Crawford on 01704 537875 or pcrawford@britshlegion.or.uk for more information.

As The Royal British Legion endeavors to engage with community groups including young people, it was decided to approach three local art schools in Formby, Southport and Preston. They were invited to enter an open competition to design a sculpture that incorporated the three Armed Forces - Navy, Army, Air Force - and the poppy. The winning design was submitted by a year 11 student Joseph Marino Carthy age 16 from Lostock Hall Art College.

His superb design is now being manufactured from polished aluminium and glass, by Preston artists Ken Blackburn and Sue Turrell, and will be unveiled on Tuesday 21 September at 2.30pm by The Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, Dame Lorna Muirhead DBE, accompanied by the Mayor of Sefton, Cllr Maureen Fearn, representatives of The Royal British Legion and the welfare departments from our catchment area. There will also be a display of art work from the students of Lostock Hall showing other designs that were in the competition.

The art feature has been co-ordinated in the art department of the college by the director of art Mrs Brenda Dean and tutor Mr Fenton Macrae. The process has helped both the college and The Royal British Legion. The students have been able to use the experience towards their examinations. Also, through provision of a Legion School's Pack DVD, students throughout the school now have a raised awareness of Remembrance Day and all the services provided by The Royal British Legion.

For further information please contact Manager Pam Crawford 01704 537875 pcrawford@britshlegion.or.uk

Byng House
Originally opened in 1976, Byng House provides free one or two week breaks for serving and ex-Service men, women and their dependants. The 36 room Poppy Break Centre allows for up to 68 guests at a time, with improved facilities such as a games room, hairdressing salon, spa bath, library, licensed bar, TV room, conservatory and garden. Internet access is available and organised activities are co-ordinated in house, including evening entertainment and 3 outings per week.  The building has been adapted to meet disability access requirements. More details.

Their debut album, 'Coming Home', was released in October last year, and they performed at the Legion's Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in November in front of  the Queen and members of the Royal family.

The Soldiers' generous donation was made at Kneller Hall in Twickenham last Friday and Russell Thompson, the Legion's Director of National Events and Fundraising was on hand to receive a cheque for £90,300.

Russell Thompson OBE, The Royal British Legion; Mark Elliott, Help for Heroes; Sgt Richie Maddocks, L/Cpl Ryan Idzi & Sgt Maj Gary Chilton, The Soldiers; Lt Col Tim Coles MBE, ABF The Soldiers Charity

The video below, courtesy of British Forces News, shows the cheque presentation and interviews with Russell Thompson, other charity representatives and The Soldiers. 

The Soldiers, who are all serving soldiers, are already planning their next album and are inviting Camp Bastion troops to sing on their next single. Proceeds from this will also go to Armed Forces charities.

Website: www.the-soldiers.co.uk

The full sized aluminium replica of a MKVb Supermarine Spitfire was built in 2008 by members of the Ripon Branch of the Royal British Legion in order to publicise their work. It took 10 months and 11,000 man hours to construct.

The plane represents aircraft number W3850 which was flown by Pilot Officer Atkinson, now Sir Joe Atkinson, over France on 13 October 1941 in an attempt to protect Blenheim bombers attacking port installations. Atkinson, in formation with other aircraft from 609 Squadron Royal Auxiliary Airforce (West Riding of Yorkshire), engaged and damaged a number of German Messerschmitt 109s during this flight. He was later awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

The replica, weighing 1.75 tons was built using original Supermarine blueprints with the airframe being constructed of an aluminium skin. The cockpit has two instrument panels and both use original Spitfire parts. A number of modifications have been made: the wings can be removed for transit, the propeller is made of three separate pieces individually bolted to the nose and it comes with its own custom designed and built trailer.

Since its construction, the Spitfire has been used at a variety of Legion branch and regional events, as well as at RAF Leeming events including the base's 70th anniversary celebrations.

It is estimated to fetch £50,000-60,000.

Bonhams has previously sold two original Spitfires. A 1945 Supermarine Spitfire sold for NZ$3.164million in New Zealand in 2008 - a record price for any historic motor vehicle or aircraft sold by auction in Australia or New Zealand. A Vickers-Supermarine Spitfire TR Mark IX sold for £1,739,500 in London, April 2009.

Tim Schofield of Bonhams comments, "We are delighted to be assisting the Royal British Legion with the sale of this aircraft. It also illustrates the diverse nature of the Bonhams Motoring Department and our Goodwood Revival auctions where we have previously sold aircraft, military vehicles, boats and a huge variety of motorised vehicles."

Stuart Gendall, Director of Corporate Communications, The Royal British Legion, said, "The replica Spitfire is a wonderful machine. The proceeds from its sale will go towards a very good cause - our wide range of care and support services for Armed Forces personnel, their families and veterans."

Visit www.bonhams.com/goodwoodrevival for more details.

For further press information:
Please contact Katherine Boyle on 0207 468 8363 or Katherine.boyle@bonhams.com / press@bonhams.com

Notes for Editors

Bonhams
Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world's oldest and largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son and Neale UK. In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the principal firm of auctioneers on the West Coast of America. Today, Bonhams offers more sales than any of its rivals, through two major salerooms in London: New Bond Street, and Knightsbridge, and a further five throughout the UK. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Carmel, New York and Boston in the USA; Toronto, Canada; and France, Monaco, Australia, Hong Kong, Australia and Dubai. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 57 specialist areas. By the end of 2009, Bonhams had become UK market leaders in ten key specialist collecting areas. For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, go to www.bonhams.com.

The Wootton Bassett Field of Remembrance is situated in the grounds of Lydiard House & Park, Lydiard Tregoze, Swindon SN5 3PA. 

The Field will be open to visitors daily from 9.00am on Tuesday 9 November until 4.00pm on Sunday 21 November.

The official opening will take place on Tuesday 11 November at 11.00am.

The Army Boxing Team vs London Amateur Boxing Association on Thursday 11 November - Remembrance Day - in The Great Hall at Chelsea Football Club, Stamford Bridge.

Programme

Be entertained by musicians from the Band of the Grenadier Guards and 19 Regiment Royal Artillery, bid for a collection of fantastic prizes at the charity auction, cheer for your chosen hero.
7.00pm
Drinks at your red carpet arrival
7.30pm
Call for dinner, introduction to the event followed by 2 minute silence
Three course dinner followed by an evening of boxing
Charity auction including 'impossible to buy' military prizes
Midnight
Cash bar
1.00am
Carriages

Dress
Black tie 

Tables & tickets available

Platinum Table  @ £2,500 per table (10 guests + one Hero)
This is a unique opportunity to 'Host a Hero' with a serving veteran recently back from operations in Afghanistan joining you on your table as the 11th man on 11th day of the 11th month.
Includes: Prime or ring side location, champagne at your table, 3 course dinner with unlimited wine, beer and soft drinks until midnight. You will be invited to champion one bout and present a prize to the winning boxer.

Gold Table @ £1,800 (10 guests)
Table set back from the boxing ring, 3 course dinner, unlimited wine, beer and soft drinks until midnight.

Gold individual tickets @ £200
Please note individual bookings from between 1 to 10 may be seated with other parties.

Silver Table @ £1,250 per table
3 course dinner, unlimited wine, beer and soft drinks until midnight.

Silver individual tickets @ £125.00
Please note individual bookings from between 1 to 10 may be seated with other parties.

To book tickets call LJV Sports Management between 9am and 6pm on 0845 901 1447 or email ticketsales@ljvsm.com  

For sponsorship packages please call Elena Tsap on +44(0)7834 523517 or email battleofstamfordbridge_sponsorship@ljvsm.com

Event organised by The Army Boxing Association in conjunction with The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal, Chelsea FC, LJV Sports Management Ltd, Wilde Thing PR & Events.

If you'd like to make a donation to the Legion via this event, visit www.justgiving.com/The-Battle-Stamford-Bridge

Piper Millin was serving as the personal piper to the Lord Lovat, Commanding Officer of 1 Special Service Brigade when it landed at Sword Beach in Normandy on June 6, 1944 as part of Operation Overlord.

He was ordered by Lord Lovat to ignore the ban on pipes in battle and to play in order to boost morale of the troops as they came ashore. Unarmed apart from the ceremonial dagger in his stocking, he played unflinchingly as men fell all around him.

According to the Daily Telegraph:

"Millin began his apparently suicidal serenade immediately upon jumping from the ramp of the landing craft into the icy water. As the Cameron tartan of his kilt floated to the surface he struck up with Hieland Laddie. He continued even as the man behind him was hit, dropped into the sea and sank.

"Once ashore Millin did not run, but walked up and down the beach, blasting out a series of tunes. After Hieland Laddie, Lovat, the commander of 1st Special Service Brigade (1 SSB), raised his voice above the crackle of gunfire and the crump of mortar, and asked for another. Millin strode up and down the water's edge playing The Road to the Isles.

"Bodies of the fallen were drifting to and fro in the surf. Soldiers were trying to dig in and, when they heard the pipes, many of them waved and cheered - although one came up to Millin and called him a "mad bastard".

Mr Millin continued to rally the invasion forces once ashore and captured German soldiers later admitted they had not shot him because they thought he had gone off his head.

His exploits were immortalised in the 1962 film 'The Longest Day', which tells the story of the D-Day landings based on the historical account by Cornelius Ryan. It is a common misconception that he played himself in the film; in fact, he was portrayed by Pipe Major Leslie de Laspee, the official piper to the Queen Mother in 1961.

Originally from Scotland, Mr Millin had lived in Devon for 45 years and was considered a hero in his hometown of Dawlish. He was well known to The Royal British Legion in Devon and regularly attended Legion events. The Legion had recently purchased a new electric wheelchair for Mr Millin, however he was unable to use it before he died.

Mr Millin returned to Normandy anniversary events in subsequent years. In June this year, the Dawlish Branch of The Royal British Legion arranged for Mr Millin to return for the 66th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

Mr Millin is held in high regard in the veterans' and piper communities in the Commonwealth, the United States and France, and The Mary Queen of Scots Pipe Band of Ouistreham, near Caen, also played a pivotal role in enabling him to travel to Normandy this year.

The band is the driving force behind a £80,000 fundraising initiative to build a statue of Mr Millin playing the bagpipes on Sword Beach, one of the enduring images of World War Two. The statue will serve as a memorial to all who fought on that day.

Piper Bill Millin will be sadly missed by all those who knew him.

The Legion has now committed £25 million over 10 years to support the MoD's Personnel Recovery Centre (PRC) programme which was announced earlier this year. The charity's funding support covers the running of the four PRCs and all the capital and civilian running costs of The Royal British Legion Battle Back Challenge Centre - a major part of the programme which aims to help seriously injured personnel using sport and outdoor activities to help physical rehabilitation and confidence building. The innovative project will help injured personnel fulfil their potential and get back to active duty or civilian life.

The Royal British Legion's Battle Back Challenge Centre is due to open in summer 2012. The Legion expects that most injured personnel who are able to return to active duty will go through the Battle Back Centre as part of their recovery. The Centre, which will be open to personnel across the Armed Forces, will provide accommodation and a state-of-the-art gym and training facility.

Chris Simpkins, Director General of The Royal British Legion, said:
"The Legion is delighted to accept this very generous donation which gives an excellent start to our fundraising target of £12m for the Battle Back Challenge Centre and a total of £25m as our contribution to the provision of the world class service for injured personnel for the next 10 years. The culture of the Centre will very much be about what users of the service can do rather than what they can't but some of the Service men and women are likely to need the Legion's support for the rest of their lives. Mr Blair's generosity is much appreciated and will help us to make a real and lasting difference to the lives of hundreds of injured personnel." 

A spokesman for Tony Blair said: 
"Tony Blair decided on leaving office that he would donate the proceeds of his memoirs to a charity for the Armed Forces as a way of marking the enormous sacrifice they make for the security of our people and the world. The Royal British Legion is just such a cause.

"In making this decision, Tony Blair recognises the courage and sacrifice the Armed Forces demonstrate day in, day out. As Prime Minister he witnessed that for himself in Iraq, Afghanistan, Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone and Kosovo. This is his way of honourng that courage and sacrifice.

"We have been consulting with a number of people and organisations to decide the best support he can give. There is one project consistently highlighted: The Royal British Legion's Battle Back Challenge Centre.

"As Tony Blair said to the House of Commons on his last day in office: "I believe that they [the Armed Forces] are fighting for the security of this country and the wider world against people who would destroy our way of life. But whatever view people take of my decisions, I think that there is only one view to take of them: they are the bravest and the best."" 

Ends

For more information on the Legion's Battle Back Challenge Centre, click here.

Media contact
Liam Maguire, PR Officer, The Royal British Legion 
T: 020 3207 2242 M: 07769 968 858 E: lmaguire@britishlegion.org.uk