Committee – Operation Christmas Box

Managing Committee

The Operation Christmas Box Management Committee consists of the four Operation Christmas Box Directors/Trustees and senior representatives from the Department of the Chief of Defence Personnel, Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff J1/ J4 from Permanent Joint Headquarters.

This Committee allows a mutually beneficial partnering arrangement which helps to support the MOD’s efforts to raise the morale of the Servicemen and Servicewomen who are serving their country overseas and away from their families at Christmas. Together they select items for the gift box which are useful, practical, fun and not provided through the usual military welfare schemes. At the same time, sending the boxes early each year well before Christmas through the MOD global supply chain avoids disrupting personal mail in the run-up to Christmas.

Ann Talbot

Operation Christmas Box reinforcements arrive! Whilst Ann is not a member of the Management Committee, she has been a great supporter of the charity since its inception. She has helped to produce the original design for publicity leaflets, publicity posters, Christmas cards, and car stickers using her well-honed IT skills to good effect.

Vestey Foods UK Ltd

Vestey Foods UK Ltd became our Christmas Box supplier after winning a competitive tender in 2008. Thanks to the enthusiastic support of Richard Herrett and subsequently Russ How, the shape and robustness of the Christmas Box has evolved. The box contents have also developed as well with an average of over 20 items each year. After listening to the suggestions for the box and its contents made each year by the MOD Christmas Box Committee, Vestey Foods UK Ltd have sought out items to meet and often exceed the Committee members’ expectations. There is a mixture of novelties, useful items, games, Christmas hat, questionnaire and a unique Operation Christmas Box Christmas card in the box. The items are refreshed each year to maintain interest and to reflect comments received from recipients. The Trustees are most appreciative of Vestey Foods UK Ltd’s efforts on behalf of Operation Christmas Box.

Danielle Sandy

Danielle joined the Royal Navy in 2008 as an Electronic Warfare Specialist. Although enjoying every minute of her time in the Navy and fortunate enough to travel to many different countries and participate in a number of operations and exercises around the world, unfortunately due to injury, she left the service in 2016.

She is now Head of Recruitment for the FDM Group, UK Ex-Forces Programme and is part of a team of veterans dedicated to helping Ex-Forces personnel transition to the commercial world. In 2019 Danielle was shortlisted for the British Ex-Forces in Business Awards. These awards recognise outstanding business achievements enabled by transferable skills gained in the military. She still manages to be involved with the military community participating in various charity events, especially climbing the hills of Cumbria and raising money for Walking with the Wounded.

A military spouse, she is married to David, a serving officer in The Royal Navy. They live in Northumberland with their much loved Siberian husky - Sapphire. Danielle enjoys watching and playing most sports.

Danielle joins the Operation Christmas Box Team as the Head of Social Media.