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Q&A with award-winning children’s author Tom Palmer

2026-02-19T15:25:25+00:00

Tom has worked with Reading Force for over ten years and we’re really happy that he is also a patron of Reading Force. He has written children’s books set in the British Army (Over the Line), Royal Navy (Arctic Star) and Royal Air Force (Spitfire). Tom’s series Rugby Academy is about a school where most of the characters are service children. He works with Forces families to get the facts right. For over ten years you’ve been a wonderful advocate for Reading Force, and now we’re lucky to have you as [...]

Q&A with award-winning children’s author Tom Palmer 2026-02-19T15:25:25+00:00

TELL US A STORY 2025 Memoir Writing Competition Adult Winners

2026-01-30T11:25:58+00:00

We would like to say a very big thank you to everyone who entered our Memoir Writing Competition. We were awestruck by your entries, the experiences and lives you’ve lived, enjoyed, survived, and captured in words. Thank you for trusting us with your stories and chapters. It has been very difficult to choose a winner, so much so, that the judges have chosen TWO winners! We are thrilled to announce that Catherine Williams and Julian Allen have won, and their memoirs will be published by Pen & Sword books – congratulations to both! Catherine’s book is about her [...]

TELL US A STORY 2025 Memoir Writing Competition Adult Winners 2026-01-30T11:25:58+00:00

An evening with Clive Myrie

2026-02-05T16:36:01+00:00

"Separation is a fact of life for many military families, but stories and books offer a shared experience, no matter how far away loved ones might be. That's why I'm proud to support Reading Force." An opportunity to hear Clive Myrie’s story, ask questions, and read his acclaimed autobiography Everything is Everything. Wednesday 18th March 6:00-8:00pm £40.00 per ticket – includes a copy of Clive’s autobiography, Everything is Everything, and a drink on arrival. Victory Services Club, 63-79 Seymour Street, London W2 2HF Book Tickets This unique event offers the opportunity to hear journalist, [...]

An evening with Clive Myrie 2026-02-05T16:36:01+00:00

Q&A with Terry, Reading Force Senior Ambassador

2026-01-19T10:50:11+00:00

We're thrilled to welcome our fabulous new team member, Terry Stuart. Here Terry shares her military family experience, and why books are her “portable home.” You have experienced several perspectives on military family life – can you tell us a little about your military links?  I grew up as a military daughter and have been a military wife for over 30 years, so I’ve lived the rhythms of Armed Forces life from both sides; packing up homes, navigating new schools, and finding our feet in each posting. Those transitions and separations taught me the resilience and resourcefulness that service families embody, and they’re a [...]

Q&A with Terry, Reading Force Senior Ambassador 2026-01-19T10:50:11+00:00

May Reading Force go from strength to strength

2026-01-08T10:28:10+00:00

Elizabeth, Lady Kitson is the founder of the Federation of Army Wives. We were delighted to receive this from her – commenting on the value of Reading Force I would like to congratulate Reading Force for its excellence and achievement – it’s a wonderful concept. I have been an Army daughter and an Army wife, and I know how important communications are when families are separated by deployments and constant moves. In the war, my mother and I were thrilled whenever we got a letter from my father. We always wrote and told him everything we [...]

May Reading Force go from strength to strength 2026-01-08T10:28:10+00:00

Reasons not to run a marathon by Alison Baverstock  

2025-12-12T15:45:12+00:00

Reading Force has two runners taking part in the 2026 event on behalf of our charity. Lizzie Jones, Operations Director of the Supacat Group (one of our sponsors) and living in Devon, and Becca Clark, military partner with long-term ambitions to be a SEND specialist. Becca is currently living in Aldershot, home of Reading Force, having moved there from Northern Ireland earlier this year. Both have two children and have long had running a London Marathon on their personal bucket list. We recently held a planning meeting, to talk about how to promote their involvement, and [...]

Reasons not to run a marathon by Alison Baverstock   2025-12-12T15:45:12+00:00

Reading Together: A Source of Calm and Connection

2025-11-26T17:19:19+00:00

Emma, Former British Army Movement Controller and now military charity professional, discovered Reading Force during a particularly challenging time for her family. Having served in the Royal Logistic Corps between 2005 and 2014 — including several operational tours — she and her husband, a serving Royal Navy Warfare Officer, are raising two children, aged 9 and 12. Like many military families, they balance life between postings, separations, and the everyday juggle of work and parenting. Here, she shares how Reading Force became a meaningful part of their family life. “Over [...]

Reading Together: A Source of Calm and Connection 2025-11-26T17:19:19+00:00

Q & A with Eimear Boulter, Reading Force Resource & Social Media Coordinator

2025-11-21T09:26:02+00:00

We’re really happy to announce that Eimear has joined the Reading Force team as Resource & Social Media Coordinator. Welcome Eimear! Here she shares some favourite books and how she first heard about Reading Force… Can you tell us how/when you first heard about RF? I first came across Reading Force back in 2020. I remember it really well, actually! My husband was on a 6 month deployment and I had two little toddlers at the time. A neighbour told us about Reading Force and I saw they were doing [...]

Q & A with Eimear Boulter, Reading Force Resource & Social Media Coordinator 2025-11-21T09:26:02+00:00

An evening of celebration and commemoration with Dame Penelope Keith & Janet Ellis

2025-10-08T16:51:50+00:00

We are delighted to offer a really special evening of celebration and commemoration – in Aldershot, where Reading Force began. At the Prince Consort’s Library, Knollys Road, Aldershot from 6-7.30pm on Tuesday 11th November, we will join Dame Penelope Keith, Janet Ellis and Ben Tugendhat (trumpeter) for a special evening. Tickets can be obtained here: A really special evening of celebration and commemoration Tickets, Tue, Nov 11, 2025 at 6:00 PM | Eventbrite The event is in aid of the charity and there will be a retiring collection. Dame Penelope Keith and Janet Ellis will read from a selection of poetry and [...]

An evening of celebration and commemoration with Dame Penelope Keith & Janet Ellis 2025-10-08T16:51:50+00:00

Shared Reading, Stronger Bonds: One Family’s Experience with Reading Force

2025-07-31T11:12:07+00:00

For one Royal Navy veteran, Reading Force has “created a strong emotional connection to reading and to the military community” for his blended family.    Jamie Phillips joined the Royal Navy at the age of 16 and proudly served for 20 years as a Warfare Rating. Over his career, he served on both Type 42 and Type 45 Destroyers and left the service as a Chief Gunner. Since leaving the service, he has signed up to Reading Force after hearing about the charity from a Reading Force Ambassador.    A Sense of Belonging    [...]

Shared Reading, Stronger Bonds: One Family’s Experience with Reading Force 2025-07-31T11:12:07+00:00