Afghanistan Christmas trip aborted

21st December 2010

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The British Forces Foundation's planned trip to entertain frontline troops in Afghanistan has had to be aborted. Katherine Jenkins, James Blunt and Kev Orkian had hoped to bring some Christmas cheer to the Forward Operating Bases but in the end weren't able to get off UK soil.

However, Katherine, a Trustee of the charity, decided that if she couldn't get to Afghanistan to entertain the servicemen and women she'd do it right their on the plane itself - and gave an impromptu rendition of Silent Night.

"We are really sorry for those that we tried to reach and failed," said The BFF's Chief Executive Mark Cann. "Whatever the reasons, we were unable to achieve our aim. As you can see from the video we were ready, waiting sat on the plane, but the delays were so great it went beyond making the trip viable."

An early hours of the morning start at Brize Norton resulted in The BFF party, along with 160 soldiers, being bussed to East Midlands airport for a rescheduled 8am flight. But as the day dragged on it became apparent that things were not going to go to plan. Despite making it onto the plane in the late afternoon more issues kept it grounded overnight.

"At the time this time, we still haven't heard whether the plane has taken off - constituting a delay of nearly two days," said Cann, speaking the following lunch-time. "We do take what we do seriously and think it's important - if we didn't we wouldn't do it - and for that reason we will keep trying.

"We are very proud of our DVD of Christmas messages which those servicemen and women on operations away from family and loved ones will receive on Christmas Day, and are very proud of Katherine Jenkins, James Blunt and Kev Orkian who, through no fault of their own, were unable to get out to Afghanistan.

"We wish everyone in the Armed Forces and their families a very safe Christmas."

News of abandoned trip was greeted by disappointment among troops in Afghanitsan. Sqn Ldr Mark Jackson wrote to The BFF to thank all those involved in trying to make it happen. "Unfortunately, the weather and aircraft issues were unseen problems that put pay to what, I'm sure, would have been a fantastic few days for our British troops.

"The disappointment of the visits cancellation has been evident amongst most soldiers I have talked to. I only hope that time will be found during the remainder of Op Herrick 13 and in the busy schedules of the celebrities, to attempt another visit to Afghanistan, so that 2 Para and all the rest of the British troops receive the morale boost that they were looking forward to and so richly deserve."