Food for Heroes

26 June 2009

The book was the brainchild of a group of friends at RAF Aldergrove (led by Sqn Leader Jon Pullen) who wanted to fundraise for the "Help for Heroes" campaign, and had the idea of contacting a wide variety of people, asking them to identify their hero, give reasons why they chose them, and then provide a recipe for the meal they would like to share with their hero.

As well as military chiefs, veterans and serving troops, contributors include political figures such as Gordon Brown and David Cameron, sports stars like Dame Kelly Holmes and Sir Steve Redgrave, celebrity chefs like Ainsley Harriot and a varied list of famous personalites from Dame Vera Lynn to Bruce Forsyth, Dame Judi Dench to Stephen Fry. And on page 38 (no surname necessary!) "Aisleyne - Businesswoman and Fashion Designer"

Such a heady mix of contributors provides a fascinating variety of both heroes and recipes. Some have chosen to name famous or historical figures as heroes, from Alexander the Great to Muhammad Ali. Others have made more personal choices and name wives, family members or friends.

Aisleyne has taken this latter option and names her hero as a little girl named Venice, the daughter of one of her best friends. Ash is full of admiration for how Venice has battled against life-threatening illness, faced drastic surgery to overcome all the odds, and describes her as the "most beautiful eloquent kind-hearted and free-spirited girl I have ever known".

Aisleyne's (predictably Caribbean!) recipe is Jamaican Red Pea Soup with Dumplings, and is the first one in the Vegetarian section of the book. She says it's a "very thick soup, more like a stew, very good for the winter." Sounds good to us - please can we come round to your yard for some, Ash?

The book was launched at London Armed Forces Day on Friday 26th June. This major event saw a large parade of troops, bands and veterans march through the London streets and across Tower Bridge. The march ended in Potters Field Park where there were speeches, exhibitions and displays which included a "Food for Heroes" exhibit, where some of the contributors, including Aisleyne, were on hand to sign books for the public.

Unsurprisingly, Aisleyne's presence proved very popular, particularly with our boys in uniform! She signed over a hundred books, and was in great demand for photographs. She did find time for some autograph hunting of her own, though, as she sought to get her own copy of the book signed by other contributors, who Ash described as the "real heroes". These included Flt Lt Michelle Goodman DFC, the first female recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross and Cpl Richard Street MC (REME).

Later in the day, Aisleyne attended the book's formal launch event at Just St James, where she mingled over champagne and canapes with other celebrities , civic dignitaries, military top brass and other contributors and their families. Aisleyne had a great time, but later confessed, "I did have a 'blonde moment'. I was talking to someone and didn't realise that I'd already met them earlier. I didn't recognise them because they'd changed out of their military uniforms and medals into civvies!"

The book is widely available at bookshops and online (it's the Waitrose Book of the Month for July). It's definitely a must-buy because:

It's in a great cause providing practical help and support to members of our armed forces and their families;
The stories are inspirational;
The recipes are delicious; and, of course,

Aisleyne's in it!

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