HOME OF THE BRAVE
Our Boys’ rehab hub set to shut
BRITAIN’S military rehab centre is preparing to shut its doors after providing care to injured squaddies for decades.
Headley Court was a 19th century mansion converted in 1949 to care for RAF flight crew who had been injured in World War Two.
In 1986 it began looking after injured personnel from all three services and thousands have passed through its doors, including many injured in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Last year alone 12,000 patients were treated under the leadership of its commanding officer, Group Captain Teresa Griffiths.
But the centre is due to close in September and patients transferred to a £300million purpose-built site in Stanford Hall, Notts. To mark the historic site’s impending closure, the Daily Star was invited inside.
Spiked
Retired Staff Sergeant Stuart Gemmell, 40, lost his left leg in Helmand Province in May 2013.
The Afghan and Iraq war veteran spent three years at Headley Court before being discharged in June 2016.
Stuart, who is now studying for a degree, was readmitted to the centre last week for another operation to fit a new type of leg.
He said: “The treatment is personalised. It is all about you.
“It is what you need at that time.
“We squeeze every inch out of our bodies while we are here to be the best we can be.”
Capt Rich Potter, 34, of the Royal Logistic Corps, had his left leg amputated eight weeks ago.
Will Colly, 25, suffered brain and physical injuries after his drink was spiked while deployed in Mombasa, Kenya, in June 2017.
He has been at Headley Court since last September.
He said: “I am definitely a strong believer in mind over matter.”
Group Capt Griffiths said: “We want an armed forces full of fighting fit staff.”