The Douglas Bader Foundation (DBF) Timeline in Brief
| 1982 | The DOUGLAS BADER FOUNDATION (DBF) formed following the death on the 4th September of Group Captain Sir Douglas Bader, CBE,DSO,DFC,FRAeS,DL
Patron, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother |
| 1986 | First Golf Fundraising Events held |
| Bader Cup established by John Southwick as an annual fundraising Golf Event held throughout the UK, eventually involving over 600 clubs | |
| 1988 | Incorporation of DBF – Sir Peter Baxendell (Deputy Chairman of Shell) became Chairman of Fundraising |
| DBF moved to offices in the Shell Centre | |
| 1989 | First ‘Bader Flame’ award presented for Outstanding Contribution to the Amputee Disabled Community |
| 1991 | HRH Diana, Princess of Wales became Patron of the Foundation |
| 1992 | The Douglas Bader Centre built at Queen Mary’s University Hospital, Roehampton, London |
| 1993 | The Douglas Bader Centre officially opened by Diana, Princess of Wales |
| 1994 | David Bickers elected Chairman of the Foundation |
| 1995 | The Douglas Bader Grant Scheme initiated |
| 1996 | First Bader Grants announced and presented at the Shell Centre
Bader Grants to be awarded annually under the Grant Scheme |
| 1998 | Baderline – a new telephone helpline for amputees launched in the West of England |
| Bader Grants presented in honour of Diana, Princess of Wales | |
| 1999 | Bader Grants presented by Queen Noor of Jordan at the Bader Centre Roehampton |
| 2000 | First Bader Challenge fundraising event – Cycle Ride Through Jordan involving amputees and the able-bodied |
| 2001 | Sponsorship of first CHAMPS (Child Amputee) weekend organised by BALASA |
| Ladies Salver Golf Tournament introduced by John Southwick | |
| 2002 | Lady Bader receives OBE for her charity work |
| The DBF fund the National Help Bureau, a joint initiative between the Foundation and The Limbless Association | |
| 2003 | First Prosthetic and Orthotic User and Professionals Industry Awards Ceremony in association with The Limbless Association |
| Opening of Bader Walking School within University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur | |
| 2004 | Launch of the Limb Loss Legal Panel offering free legal advice to amputees |
| 2005 | Launch of Limb Loss Information Centre (LLIC) providing advice and information to people with limb loss |
| First Farrow Bader Flying Day for children with disabilities | |
| Launch of the inclusive Bader Challenges designed to encourage disabled people to participate in life changing challenges | |
| 2006 | New Queen Mary’s Hospital rehabilitation facility called ‘The Douglas Bader Rehabilitation Centre’ to honour Sir Douglas Bader and the work of the Foundation |
| Launch of the Douglas Bader Insurance Advice Service | |
| The Douglas Bader Grant Scheme pledges support to the amputee victims of the July 7th London Bombings | |
| 2007 | 25th Anniversary of the Douglas Bader Foundation |
| 25th Anniversary Auction Dinner in the The Long Room at Lord’s Inaugural Amputee Games | |
| 2010 | Douglas Bader Centenary |
| Launch of DBF child-based initiative, Bader Braves | |
| Douglas Bader Grant to RAFT | |
| Bader Braves Young Aviators initiative – 5 Bader Braves Young Aviators Days held around the UK
Programme of Young Aviators Days continues to be held annually |
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| 3 DBF Ambassadors announced: Phil Packer; David Gardner and Adam Layer | |
| LimbLine – New amputee led 1-2-1 advice and chat service for LLIC run by Ambassador, Margaret Biggs | |
| 2011 | 9 Bader Braves Young Aviators Days scheduled around the UK |
| 2 DBF Ambassadors announced: Margaret Biggs and Wyn Jenkins | |
| 2012 | 30th Anniversary of the death of Sir Douglas Bader |
| 12 Bader Braves Young Aviators Days held around the UK | |
| Special Bader Grants awarded to honour 30th Anniversary | |
| 2013 | 30th Anniversary Year of the Douglas Bader Foundation |
| Bader Braves Challenge Weekend at Calvert Trust Exmoor | |
| 12 Bader Braves Young Aviators Days scheduled around the UK | |
| DBF Ambassador announced: Nathan Doidge | |
| DBF Ambassador announced: Martine Wright | |
| New LLIC Forum initiated | |
| Team Bader launched | |
| Ambassador, Margaret Biggs, designs bespoke kit for Team Bader (Cycling) | |
| Ambassadors, Wyn Jenkins and Margaret Biggs, launch Team Bader (Cycling) with ‘Tandem Challenge Wales’ | |
| First DB Trophy Golf Challenge celebrates 30 years
Bader Golf Organiser, John Southwick, retires after 26 years of running the Bader Cup. Thousands of pounds raised for the DBF |
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| 2014 | 12 Bader Braves Young Aviators Days scheduled across the UK |
| Bader Braves Winter Wonderland Weekend at Calvert Trust Kielder | |
| Bader Braves Peter Saywell Track Day | |
| DBF Canal Trip for Roehampton Limb User Group (RLUG) with the Bruce Trust | |
| Team Bader (Cycling) participates in Time Trials across the UK | |
| Team Bader Amputees registered with Road Time Trial Council as official Para-Cycling Team | |
| Ambassador, Margaret Biggs, honoured for her achievements with reinstated ‘Bader Flame’ Award | |
| DBF Website upgraded and under new management | |
| BILL (Bader Information on Limb Loss) succeeds LLIC | |
| 2015 | 10 Bader Braves Young Aviators Days scheduled across the UK |
| 2 Bader Braves Adventure Weekends at Calvert Trust Exmoor and Calvert Trust Kielder | |
| Ambassador, Margaret Biggs, honoured for her Time Trials Achievements at Champions Night Dinner at Heythrop Park, Oxford | |
| Sir Douglas Bader features in new escape book and film about his escape from Warburg in the pipeline | |
| DBF Ambassador announced: Gautam Lewis | |
| Launch of DBF ‘Reach for the Sky’ Campaign | |
| DBF Ambassador announced: Gemma Trotter | |
| Evening of Inspiration at RAF Club to announce ‘Bader’s Bus Company – Still Running’ initiative | |
| DBF Newsletter ‘Inspiration’ reinstated as ‘Inspiration2’ eNewsletter | |
| Death of Joan, Lady Bader: 17/03/1918 – 18/12/2015 | |
| 2016 | Lady Bader Memorial Grants and Special Awards initiative |
| 9 Bader Braves Young Aviators Days scheduled across the UK | |
| Bader Braves Go-Karting, Stockwell | |
| Joan Bader Thanksgiving Lunch | |
| ‘Bader’s Big Band’ initiative announced launching Team Bader (Music) | |
| DBF Ambassador announced: Paul McNeive | |
| Team Bader (Cycling): first ‘Dambusters Cycle Ride’ organised by Ambassador, Wyn Jenkins | |
| Second Canal Boat Cruise for Roehampton Limb User Group (RLUG) with Waterways Experiences | |
| New feature, Bader Grant Recipient of the Month, kicks off with Lady Bader Memorial Grant Recipient, Mari Akhurst, Para-Dressage Rider | |
| 2017 | 10 Bader Braves Young Aviators Days scheduled across the UK |
| Bader Braves Go-Karting Day at Stockwell | |
| First Bader Braves Sailing Day | |
| Second ‘Dambusters Cycle Ride’ organised by Ambassador, Wyn Jenkins | |
| DBF supports Triathlon Ireland | |
| Bader Braves Adventure Weekend with Calvert Trust – Exmoor | |
| Bader Braves Adventure Weekend with Calvert Trust – Kielder | |
| ‘Bader’s Big Band’ recruit musicians and hold audition day | |
| 2018 | 10 Bader Braves Young Aviators Days scheduled across the UK |
| Bader Braves Sailing Day Bristol | |
| Third and final ‘Dambusters Cycle Ride’ organised by Ambassador, Wyn Jenkins | |
| ‘Bader’s Big Band’ rehearsal weekends at Tedworth House | |
| ‘Bader’s Bus Company’ launch | |
| ‘Bader’s Big Band’ first performance at The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire | |
| ‘Bader’s Bus Company’ debut performance to coincide with anniversary of death of Sir Douglas, 5th September, at Blackbushe Airport | |
| DBF Ambassador announced: Mari Durward-Akhurst | |
| DBF 1st Junior Ambassador announced: Thomas Talbot | |
| 2019 | 11 Bader Braves Young Aviators Days scheduled across the UK |
| DBF supports team including Ambassador Wyn Jenkins (support crew) and wife Marg (competitor) in RAAM | |
| Bader Braves Adventure Weekend with Calvert Trust, Kielder | |
| ‘Bader’s Bus Company’: Performed at Guernsey Air Show | |
| ‘Bader’s Bus Company’: Performed at Duxford Armed Forces Day, Bucks and Milton Keynes | |
| ‘Bader’s Big Band’: Performed at Duxford Air Show | |
| ‘Bader’s Big Band’: Performed at Private Retirement Dinner for CEO of Dorset Orthopaedic at Bentley Priory | |
| Bader Braves Adventure Weekend with Calvert Trust, Exmoor | |
| 2020 | 10 Bader Braves Young Aviators Days scheduled across the UK |
| Web Design update for DBF
BILL (Bader Info on Limb Loss) renamed BADER INFORMATION to supply across the board information for people with disabilities |
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| Bader Braves Adventure Camps offered in conjunction with Over The Wall | |
| MORE IN THE PIPELINE FOR 2020 – WATCH THIS SPACE!
(We are currently waiting to see what changes may have to be made to our schedule as a result of the Coronavirus and will obviously keep you all updated.) |