Swindon Trauma Group 14th Annual Conference
0915 to 1730 hrs Friday 12 September 2025
Venue: Kennet Suite, Doubletree by Hilton, Lydiard Fields, Great Western Way, Swindon SN5 8UZ
Dress: Casual but Smart
Cost: £70-00 per delegate
£40-00 per STG member and past presenters at STG functions
Programme (subject to change)
Title: Commemorating the end of the 2nd World War 2 September 1945 - Psychological support available 1939 -1945 and eighty years later
Thought for the day
Give us the tools and we will finish the job
Winston Churchill- Radio Broadcast 9 February 1941
0915-0945: Meet and greet. Why not a cuppa? Tea and coffee
0945-1000: Introductions for the day, administration and Health and Safety. Karen Kambona and Richard Hilling ARRC Chairman of Swindon Trauma Group
1000-1015: A food for thought. Richard Hilling and Antonio Chef at the Doubletree by Hilton
1015-1045: Break
1045-1130: “For Exception Devotion and Competency and For Very Exceptional Bravery”: Remembering the Nurses Awarded the Royal Red Cross in the Second World War - Professor Vari M. Drennan, MBE, PhD, FQNI, Professor of Health Care and Policy Research at Kingston University, London & Vice Chair, Royal College of Nursing History of Nursing Forum
1130-1230: Psychological casualties from the Blitz on London: myths and reality? Professor Edgar Jones MA, PhD, DPhil, Dip Clinical Psychotherapy. King’s Centre for Military Health Research, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience King’s College London
1230-1330: 14Twelve Restaurant- 2 course hot and cold buffet with refreshments
1330-1345: Introductions to the afternoon Richard Hilling
1345-1430: “RAF Bomber Command: Lack of Moral Fibre - Stress or Cowardice” - Anthony P Hopkins ARRC, BA (Hons), MA(History), a former RAF RMN, career spanned 22 years in the RAF including two tours to West Germany and trained as a Flight Mental Nurse and CPN. In civvy street worked as a specialist in the treatment of psychological trauma and lives in the picturesque town of Bridlington Yorkshire.
Lack Moral Fibre (LMF): LMF was a term introduced by the RAF in April 1940. It was intended to stigmatize aircrew who refused to fly without a medical reason. The term was introduced in response to the ever-increasing psychiatric casualties from the early operations of Bomber and Coastal Commands. Due to the risk of invasion and the shortage of aircrew, senior RAF officers, not medical officers, decided to impose severe penalties on those who had lost confidence without extenuating circumstances.
1430-1515: From Trauma to the Presence - Vicki Plomer. Somatic Therapist and Parenting Coach, Swindon Dance
1515-1545: Break with tea or coffee with “Doughnut Therapy”.
1545-1630: Healing from Trauma- From WW1 to today-the “Art of the Possible”. Dr Justin Havens Fda BA BEng MSc PhD MBACP EMDR consultant and therapist. Awarded PhD by Anglia Ruskin University Veterans and Families Institute which was about brief and powerful self help intervention to resolve nightmares
1630- 1645: Reflections - Richard Hilling
1645-1700: STG Draws: There will be two draws; this year to help raise money for Swindon Trauma Group and Swindon BATS, sports and social club charity for the visually impaired; including two prizes of afternoon tea for two at the Doubletree by Hilton
1700-1730: Encore, review of the day and epilogue.
A thought to end the day
We will fly, we will fly, we will let go
Beth Nielson Chapman
Swindon Trauma Group wishes everyone a safe journey home
STG also wishes to thank: Speakers and artists for giving their time free of charge and Doubletree by Hilton and Kingston House for their support. Please download below further information about those presenting or performing.
Also attached invoice which includes dietary requirements and any allergies of those attending.
There will be a set 2 or 3 courses meal in the 14 Twelve Restaurant at 1915 hrs for delegates, speakers, artists and STG members who wish to stay at £38-00 (2 course) and £40-00 (3 course) including tea and coffee per person. Please let Swindon Trauma Group know if you wish to dine. See menu below
Proceeds from the conference after expenses, will go to Swindon Trauma Group
There will be also two draws to raise money for the group and Swindon BATS – Sports and Social Club for the Visually Impaired. Each draw includes a prize of afternoon tea with tea and coffee for two at the Doubletree by Hilton. Price per ticket for each draw £2-50.
If organisations would like a small stall the cost will be £19-45 per stall up to a maximum of six stands.
Reference: bethnielsenchapman.com - concerning a quote at the end of a very moving song.