Paisley Daily Express

DAVID FLIES HIGH

JOY FOR ERSKINE VET

- KENNETH SPEIRS

An Erskine veteran is flying high thanks to a bumper charity cheque.

The ex-servicemen and women’s charity Erskine received a generous grant of £40,000 from The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity and its funding partner, the Greenwich Hospital.

The grant supports the continued provision to seafaring residents living in The Erskine Home, Bishopton.

And the cash will help people like David Whittick, 94, a former Royal Navy World War II pilot, who recently had a wish come true and spent time in the cockpit of a modern Embraer Phenom 300 Jet.

He said: “It was a wonderful day.” Veterans at Erskine benefit from a huge programme of social and recreation­al activities which include, amongst other things, the granting of Veterans’ wishes

For almost ten years Erskine has been the beneficiar­y of welcome annual support from RN&RMC.

As well as improving the quality of life, Erskine veterans benefit from enhanced on-site care services such as physiother­apy, speech and language therapy and the specialise­d support of not only a Dementia Nurse Consultant but an Advanced Nurse Practition­er.

Access to consultant­s such as these is especially important for those living with complex medical needs, and every penny the charity receives counts towards this.

Erskine chief executive Ian Cumming: “Erskine is proud to have the privilege of providing residentia­l, nursing, dementia and respite care for our Royal Navy and Royal Marines Veterans.

“Our generous supporters play a significan­t role in Erskine’s vision of a Scotland in which all veterans and their families are valued and respected, and where high quality care and support enable them to maximise their potential and quality of life.

“Our Royal Navy and Royal Marine veterans in The Erskine Home all showed great bravery and courage in their service, and we are truly grateful for The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity and Greenwich Hospital’s long-term commitment to helping Erskine provide the leading care that they deserve.”

RN & RMC director of relationsh­ips and funding, Mandy Lindley said the work of Erskine ensuring that those who have served their country are not left behind in old age.

“We are very pleased to continue supporting Erskine, allowing them to provide vital care for our naval veterans in Scotland,” she said.

We are very pleased to continue supporting Erskine, allowing them to provide vital care

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 ??  ?? Up and away David Whittick was welcomed on board by the plane’s pilot
Up and away David Whittick was welcomed on board by the plane’s pilot

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