The Birmingham International Tattoo has raised £8,437 for Royal Star & Garter.

The impressive total came through the generous support of the audience at the military spectacular, which took place at the Resorts World Arena on 11-12 February.

Royal Star & Garter provides loving, compassionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia, with Homes in Solihull, Surbiton and High Wycombe.

The charity has been one of the Birmingham International Tattoo’s chosen charities since 2007. During that time, more than £126,000 has been raised for Royal Star & Garter.

Residents and staff from the Solihull Home attended the Tattoo, which was the first since the Covid pandemic, and had been postponed in September 2022 following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

The money for the Royal Star & Garter was raised through a bucket collection, programme sales, online donations and contactless payments on the day.

Volunteers, including those from Warwickshire and West Midlands Armed Cadets Force and Co-op Funeralcare branches in Wednesbury and Wednesfield, also helped fundraise and run the Royal Star & Garter stall.

The two-day event included marching bands from across the UK and Europe, spectacular displays and all the military pomp and ceremony associated with the prestigious annual Birmingham International Tattoo.

‘Great to be back at the Tattoo’

Royal Star & Garter Chief Executive Andy Cole addressed the audience at the Tattoo, and later said: “After so long away it was great to be back at the Birmingham International Tattoo. I’d like to thank the organisers for supporting Royal Star & Garter again this year, the volunteers who helped us, and all those who gave so generously. The money will make a real difference to the lives of the veterans we care for.”

‘Privilege to support Royal Star & Garter’

Tattoo Producer Norman Rogerson MBE said: “It is a privilege to support Royal Star & Garter again and help the invaluable work they do for veterans and the military family. This fantastic amount raised is testament to our audience’s support for military charities and brings the total raised for this worthy cause through the Tattoo to over £126,000.”

Amanda Gallie from Co-op Funeralcare was one of the volunteers helping at the Tattoo. She said: “We are always keen to support Royal Star & Garter in their cause of caring for veterans and their families, and after Birmingham Tattoo didn’t go ahead in 2022, we were pleased to return to help them this year. We helped out by giving volunteers food and refreshments, and we were thrilled to raise over £8,000 too! The event was a great success all round and we always love helping out important causes like these that make a difference.”

The Home in Solihull is welcoming new residents. For more information on this, or working at the Home, go to www.starandgarter.org/solihull