British Forces Foundation
The British Forces Foundation is a British charitable foundation, launched in May 1999 by comedian Jim Davidson to support the well-being of the members of Britain's armed forces though the provision of high quality entertainment. The Prince of Wales is Patron, and former Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher was President. Jim Davidson remains Vice President. On the British Forces Foundation website, the current Vice Presidents (as of 29 December 2013) are: HE Mahfouz bin Mahfouz, Major General Arthur Denaro CBE, Admiral Sir Jock Slater GCB LVO DL and General The Lord Guthrie GCB LVO OBE. The current Trustees (as of 29 December 2013) are: Mr Laurie Mansfield (Chairman), WO1 Steve Cass, Air Vice Marshal David Crwys-Williams CB, Sir Gerald Howarth, Miss Katherine Jenkins OBE, Mr Jim Moir, Lieutenant General Peter Pearson CB CBE, Admiral Sir James Perowne KBE and The Rt Hon Lord Robertson of Port Ellen KT GCMG honFRSE PC.
The BFF stages shows for the forces at home, and in combat zones, and also stages frequent fund-raising events including a polo tournament, and an annual fund-raising auction.
British Armed Forces
The British Armed Forces form the military of the United Kingdom, tasked with defence of the country, its overseas territories and the Crown dependencies; as well as promoting the UK's wider interests, supporting international peacekeeping efforts, and providing humanitarian aid. They are: the Royal Navy, a blue-water navy with a fleet of 77 commissioned ships; the Royal Marines, a highly specialised amphibious light infantry force; the British Army, the UK's principal land warfare branch; and the Royal Air Force, a technologically sophisticated air force with a diverse operational fleet consisting of both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft.
The Commander-in-chief of the British Armed Forces is the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, to whom members of the forces swear allegiance. However the British parliament maintains the armed forces during times of peace with the passing of quinquennial armed forces acts. The armed forces are managed by the Defence Council of the Ministry of Defence, headed by the Secretary of State for Defence.
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