Army HIVE Says Thank You and Farewell to Longest Serving Overseas HISO

This week marks our longest-ever serving Overseas HISO - Jo Ratabuli - leaving Episkopi HIVE for pastures new. Over her 14 years in post, Jo has been absolutely central in supporting her customers in Epi and wider across BFC, unit moves to and from Cyprus, our Non-UK Nationals, and so much more – her knowledge, warmth and exceptional customer service will no doubt be remembered by many customers and colleagues from across the last decade and a half. Suffice to say, Jo will be a much-missed member of the Army HIVE team, not only from her current BFC colleagues (Karen-Grace, Donna, Emma, James, Jen and Katie) but the rest of the Army HIVE team too!

Our Cyprus Area Manager, Karen-Grace, penned the attached poem and it perfectly captures Jo’s achievements, the differences she has made over her 14 years in service, and the sentiments of her team.

From us all in Army HIVE, Jo, Vinaka vakalevu (thank you very much), Moce mada (until we meet again), and may your next chapter be filled with joy, peace, laughter, and the same warmth you gave so freely to others.

Hereford: Lyde Court Book Fayre - Sat 23 May

 

Information provided by Wales HIVE Hub

BFBS Marks 15 Years Since Op TELIC Ended With Commemorative Anniversary Campaign

The Forgotten Conflict: BFBS Gives Voice to the Veterans of Op TELIC

BFBS (British Forces Broadcasting Service) today begins a dedicated week of programming to mark 15 years since the end of Operation TELIC (Op TELIC), codename for the involvement of the UK Armed Forces deployed to Iraq between March 2003 and May 2011.

Daily commemorations this week will run across BFBS Radio, BFBS TV, and digital platforms, exclusively bringing together multiple contributors including veterans, serving personnel and BFBS staff as key voices in the special broadcasts forming a comprehensive tribute to the Op TELIC anniversary, and to honour the lived experiences of the UK Armed Forces personnel who served.

While many broadcasters covered the conflict from the outside, BFBS was broadcasting alongside the UK Armed Forces, keeping personnel connected to home throughout operations. From playing music that lifted morale to sharing messages from the families waiting back home, to putting on events to entertain personnel, BFBS served those deployed rather than simply reporting on them. Fifteen years on, that shared experience places BFBS in a unique position to help tell their stories in their own words.

Beginning today, audiences will hear directly from those who served through interviews, long-form specials, bespoke digital content, and live discussions across BFBS radio and social media reflecting on the legacy, with support from BFBS TV. These personal reflections form the heart of the week, capturing a wide range of lived experiences from those who were deployed.

Weeton - Lancashire: The Duke of Lancaster's Christmas Card Design Competition - closing date 22 June 2026

The Competition is open to children up to 16 years from families of serving soldiers and veterans.  

Closing date is Monday the 22nd June 2026.

Information provided by Weeton HIVE

Give Us Time: Summer 2026 Welfare Update

Click poster to enlarge.

To find out more please visit www.giveustime.org.uk

Dorset: Bovington/Lulworth/Wool summer bus services

Click HERE to see bus service map.

MoreBus "Breezer" summer bus services 30 & 31 begin running every day of the week from Saturday 23rd May 2025. The Breezer 30 and 31 services will be similar to last year.

FirstBus "Coaster" summer bus service 55 also begins running on the 23rd May, and the year-round X54 starts running to its enhanced summer timetable (extended from Wareham to Swanage).

Breezer 30 runs between Weymouth and Swanage, roughly one an hour, calling at Osmington, Winfrith, Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove, Wool station, Wareham town and station, Corfe Castle and Swanage. Some journeys start/end at Dorchester.

Breezer 31 runs hourly in an anticlockwise circle from Wool station, calling at Winfrith, Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove. On schooldays, the service ends at around 13:30. On other days, the service runs on through the afternoon. The 31 is expected to continue running on weekends only until early November, as last year.

Coaster X54 runs between Weymouth and Swanage at irregular intervals, calling at Osmington, Winfrith, Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove, Wool station, Wareham town and station, Corfe Castle and Swanage. It is expected that the X54 will be augmented by open-top service X50 during the school summer holiday period, as last year.

Coaster 55 runs hourly in a clockwise circle from Wool station, calling at Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door, Winfrith then back to Wool station. 

First shuttle bus 52 will run roughly every half hour between Wool station and the Tank Museum on special event days.

Full timetables can be found HERE

Information provided by Bovington HIVE

Bovington: County lines crime gangs awareness training (free) event - Fri 1st June

Back by popular demand, this briefing is of real importance. County Lines activity and the exploitation of children is a vile and predatory crime type that deliberately targets the most vulnerable in our communities. 

Offenders use pressure, manipulation and intimidation to draw young people into criminality, often without families realising what is happening until significant harm has occurred. As a military community, we are not immune. 

The mobility of Service life, periods of separation, and social isolation can all increase risk factors that organised criminal groups actively seek to exploit. By increasing awareness and equipping families with the right knowledge, we can strengthen our collective resilience, protect vulnerable young people, and ensure that offenders find no opportunity to operate within or around our Garrison.

Information provided by Bovington HIVE

Bovington: Garrison Coworking Hub for Military spouses to work & connect

               

"Need a break from the kitchen table office/study setup?"

We’ve got just the spot! The MCN (Military Coworking Network) Bovington hub. Your little slice of calm, focus and unlimited tea/coffee heaven. 

For just £30 a year (yep, a whole year!), you’ll get:
✅ Access to a professional office space

✅ 900 hours of coworking, about 75 hours per month

✅ Screens ready to go

✅ Free use of a colour printer/scanner/photocopier

✅ Good, reliable Wi-Fi

We offer a FREE trial session (3 hours)! Would you like to get booked in for a look around and a proper test-run of the space? Drop us a message if you’ve got any questions, we’d love to help.

Click Bovington | Military Coworking Network to find out more and grab your spot! 

Information provided by Bovington HIVE

Blandford: Garrison Coworking Hub for Military spouses to work & connect

https://www.militarycoworking.uk/blandford-hub

Below images: Blandford Hub. Located by Costcutter shop on Camp

For details of the Bovington Garrison hub and other military UK/Overseas Coworking hubs click HERE

Information provided by Bovington HIVE

Bovington: BFBS Radio live on air throughout the Garrison

 

The military community in Bovington Garrison can listen to BFBS Radio on 100.8FM.

The schedule brings listeners a great mix of local and global radio, combining the BFBS Blandford Breakfast Show – weekdays from 0630-1000hrs – with programmes from BFBS Radio’s worldwide network.

The BFBS service will continue to be maintained in Bovington on 1287 AM too.

If you have a story or message that you would like to broadcast on BFBS, please contact Producer/Presenter for BFBS Blandford, Jason Herbert, via blandford@bfbs.com.

BLANDFORD CAMP

BFBS radio Namaste, Blandford. BFBS Gurkha 101.5FM

Blandford Garrison radio is live on 100.8FM

Information provided by Bovington HIVE