royalbritishlegion-blog

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LEGION VOLUNTEER WINS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Naval veteran Pat Prior BEM QVRM has dedicated her whole life to helping members of the Armed Forces community both in Service and as a volunteer for the Legion.

Now the Charity Staff Foundation (the charity that provides dedicated support to people who work or volunteer in the charity sector) has awarded her its 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Pat has been a lifelong supporter of the Legion. Her parents got her involved with the Legion and she became a Poppy Appeal collector in 1969. She became an active member of Lee-on-Solent Branch in 1996, taking on the roles of Branch Secretary, Welfare Secretary and Management Board & Membership Secretary – three positions she continues to hold.

She has been instrumental in keeping branch members actively involved in the local community by organising regular bingo and quiz nights. For some members these events are their only opportunity to enjoy a night out. Pat transports them to and from the appointed venue, planning her life around making sure they get there.

As well as the welfare work she does for branch members and people in surrounding areas, Pat qualified as a Legion caseworker in 2006. In this role she works with members and eligible dependents, checking on vulnerable people who are in ill health and elderly people who are living alone. She checks on those who have not renewed their membership and visits many people in hospital and has attended hundreds (if not thousands) of cases that have taken her across Hampshire.

"During her time as a case worker Pat has shown tremendous compassion for Service and ex-Service personnel. She doesn't just visit, fill in the paperwork and pass it over. She goes the extra mile to help."

Keeping up to date with best practice procedures, Pat attends all available courses and team-building outings and shares her advanced knowledge with other caseworkers. Once a month, she attends Veterans Outreach Support – an outreach facility at the Royal Maritime Club in Portsmouth where eligible personnel and their dependents can call in for advice and possible assistance. She has mentored new members of staff at this outreach facility and enabled them to broaden their connections by introducing them to the other organisations involved including SSAFA (Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association), the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust (RNBT), veterans' mental health charity Combat Stress and Veterans UK. Pat is well-respected by her colleagues – she regularly attends the RNBT conference at HMS Collingwood and represented the Legion when HRH Prince Edward visited the outreach facility.

Pat Prior accepting a cheque on behalf of the Legion for monies raised at a local infant school

Pat Prior accepting a cheque on behalf of the Legion for funds raised at a local infant school

Pat helps her clients in a multitude of ways. She helps them talk to their local councils about housing; provides money advice, signposting them to local money and advice representatives; and, through her own contacts, finds job opportunities and work for those who are struggling financially. Sometimes a beneficiary just wants company, and Pat provides this regularly. Pat's list of beneficiaries is growing, but she never turns anyone down for a visit.

"Pat is always there for everyone else and expects no recognition for her good work. She's an amazing lady and is a real inspiration to the people whose lives she has touched."

In 2006 Pat took on the additional role of Poppy Appeal Organiser at Lee-on-Solent and over the last ten years has raised £234,521 for the Poppy Appeal in her area. When the areas of HMS Sultan and Portchester were left without a Poppy Appeal Organiser in 2013, Pat took them on too – raising £24,483 for the area of Portchester and £6481 for HMS Sultan - making a grand total of £265,486 for all three areas.

In addition to her work on various fundraising events, Pat organises the Remembrance parade in Lee-on-Solent, the Two Minute Silence in Lee-on-Solent High Street each year on 11 November and, in 2015, organised a commemorative D-Day service with a local flying club that brought thousands of people into the area.

Pat is also a Legion Recruiting Officer for Hampshire and organises and attends regular county shows to promote the aims and objectives of The Royal British Legion and to engage with people who may require help. She also visits local organisations, Cadet groups and schools to speak about the work of the Legion.

With her lifetime achievement award, Pat is no stranger to awards for her good work. In 1984, she was awarded the British Empire Medal (BME) for her Service with the Royal Navy, providing extra-curricular professional training outside of her normal duties as Chief Writer. In 2003, she was awarded the Queen’s Volunteer Reserves Medal (QVRM) for her Service in the reserve forces. Pat is humble about her awards but is proud of her Service in the Royal Navy between 1968 and 2005 and passionate about her work with the Legion and the people she helps. 

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Armed Forces kids tell us about their mums...

We've asked Service kids to tell us about their Military mums. They told us the cutest things. 

Now it's your turn! Share your photos with your mum and tell us why she's great! #MothersDay  https://youtu.be/I6iatM3mzms

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Ian Ewers-Larose, 48, lives in Ipswich, Suffolk. He served for several years as a medic in the RAF, serving a tour in the Falklands and on Operation Granby in the 1st Gulf War. He tells us how his health deteriorated after Service.

I was serving in the RAF at a Jaguar Aircraft Base as a JNCO Medic. Two of the Squadrons were called into preparation for Operation Granby and as an appointed Squadron Detachment Medic I was put on standby.

I was also trained in Special NBC Team (Nuclear, Biological and chemical) to deal with any medical incident involving those three weapon usage. Because of this I was told I would be on high alert so I had to be prepared.

"I collapsed at home and was rushed to hospital with a suspected Brain Haemorrhage."

About 6-9 months after serving in the first Gulf War I became unwell and this next information is only what I have been told as I cannot remember myself. I collapsed at home and was rushed to hospital with a suspected Brain Haemorrhage. After several days in hospital and the loss of feeling in my legs, it was found that the Myelin Sheath (that coats your spinal column to protect your central nervous system in your spine) was destroyed. Initially the civilian hospital thought I had Multiple Sclerosis, as this is a symptom of this, but I had no other real symptoms to suggest this, so it was all a big question mark. This was then dismissed and I was discharged back to the RAF. I had to try to get on with my job without being able to walk properly. I also had an issue with my vision in my left eye. As I was constantly falling ill, I was advised to take redundancy in 1996, rather than being medically discharged. At a medical board in London, they gave me the diagnosis of Post Viral Syndrome (better known today as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome).

"I now have to take a cocktail of medications to keep me alive – without this I do not know where I would be."

No-one has ever found out what happened, and to this day I "short circuit" and this causes mini TIA's (mini mini strokes). Since all this I have had two major strokes and 2 major TIA's and have occasional "vacant episodes" which are said to be linked to this problem. When I left the RAF I went to a resettlement course where a Royal British Legion person was there and advised I apply for a War Pension; which I did and was awarded this status. I was given £1,500 compensation and a letter for free prescription and war pensioner status. Because my condition had become so bad over the last few years, I had to give up work. I now receive my Service pension from the RAF. I left the RAF in 1996. I now have to take a cocktail of medications to keep me alive – without this I do not know where I would be. I continue to live with neuropathy pains in legs and arms, excessive tiredness - Chronic Fatigue, forgetfulness and occasional loss of cognitively activity, global pain and heart arrhythmia.

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The Royal British Legion is pleased to welcome the support of host of famous faces, including Lord Sugar and Jessica Ennis-Hill, in a new short film made to mark this year’s Two Minute Silence on 11 November at 11am.

Each person that features in the two-minute long video is seen holding a poppy to their lips – a gesture designed to remind the nation to observe the respectful silence on the Eleventh hour of the Eleventh day of the Eleventh month. Please respect the Two Minute Silence.

Show that you will be observing the #TwoMinuteSilence on 11 Nov at 11am by sharing a photo of a poppy against your lips in the comments below, on Twitter @PoppyLegion and on Instagram @RoyalBritishLegion.

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Millie Mackintosh - Poppy Dress

Millie Mackintosh wears her poppy to remember her great-grandfather, Lieutenant Douglas Mackintosh who fought in the First World War.

Now it’s your turn! Tell us your ‪#‎mypoppy‬ story in the comments below, on Twitter @PoppyLegion and on Instagram @RoyalBritishLegion.

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Mark Smith — A Fathers Story

“Ok, make sure you look left and right.” Each boy holds on tightly to their father's hand as he carefully walks them across the road. As he lets go they run into the park.“This is the pirate play park, we go here every day after I get back from training,” says Mark as he catches them up. “The one thing that’s been difficult about being a Dad and only having one leg is not being able to chase after them. That’s why I’ve been so careful to teach them how to cross the road with me.”Mark hasn’t been always been able to be around his family as much as he wanted to. As a former Lance Sergeant in the Queen's Company of the Grenadier Guards, he was often on tour or away for training. Mark joined the Guards straight from school, and met Natalie, his future wife, the day before he went back to Bosnia.After tours in Bosnia and Iraq, he experienced one of the toughest tours of Afghanistan in 2009. Three of his colleagues were killed by a rogue member of the Afghan National Police and another colleague was killed by an IED. This all changed when he was injured in 2011 during a live-firing exercise in Canada whilst training for his second tour in Afghanistan.“I was standing behind a wall when the shots came through and hit my upper thigh. It took three days before the decision was made to remove my leg.” “With all the time away Natalie hardly saw me. I met her the day before I went back to Bosnia and our relationship had always been long distance. After I got injured we had to adjust to me being there all the time.”After two years of treatment and physio at Headley Court Mark was in a difficult situation. He was no longer receiving support from the military and was about to adjust to a new life as a civilian. “I tried a few jobs but I knew I was unhappy. I wanted to be a role model to my kids. I couldn’t be that as a solider anymore.”Then Mark became interested in competitive bodybuilding. During his time in hospital he lost weight, and he wanted to put it back on in the right way. He became involved in the sport, and shortly after he started training he was competing and winning awards. “I have to practice my posing at home and the boys now join in.  After my first show Natalie told me it was the happiest she had seen me since my injury.” “I’d love to do Dad things like go to the pool with them, but we do get to do other things together like bowling and the cinema. When Natalie's away we have a normal boys only weekend!”   Mark says that the injury has made his boys more caring. “I still have to have operations on my groin.  They always know when that is and make sure they don’t sit on ‘Daddy’s poorly leg’.”Reflecting on what it means to be a dad, Mark says “I feel fortunate that I’m able to watch my children grow up because, with the amount of times they resuscitated me, I shouldn’t be here. The moments when they come into our bedroom in the morning and jump into bed with us, they’re bonuses really.”

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Chelsea Pensioners Wing Walk

Chelsea Pensioner Charmaine will be braving 100mph winds for 10 minutes as she completes a wing walk this weekend in aid of The Royal British Legion and the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Having joined the Army when she was 20, Charmaine spent most of her service in the Military Police.

“Last year, I put in to do a sky dive because I enjoyed doing it all those years ago in the Army. A wing walk is completely different because you get strapped to a plane, I’ve never done it before and I’ve never seen anyone do it! I’m not worried about it, I am excited”

You can support Charmaine here http://fal.cn/BuGw, see how she does on the day by following @RHChelsea on Twitter.

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Lest We Forget - Bastion Memorial

Today we remember 453 UK Service personnel who lost their lives in Afghanistan.  Find out more about the #BastionMemorial at The Royal British Legion’s National Memorial Arboretum here: http://fal.cn/BE92... Please fill me up with your lovely text...

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Volunteers Week - Mick

Mick Woosnam served in the Army for 17 years and now volunteers at out Pop-In Centre Information in Leeds, offering help and advice to the local Armed Forces community. For more stories visit: http://fal.cn/BKgW He volunteered with the Legion after we helped him by with payments for furnishing for his newly adapted home. After his wife passed away in 2013, we supported Nick by making sure he received his new furniture and food vouchers as he didn’t have much money to pay for essentials. This #VolunteersWeek, we’d like to thank Mick for his amazing work!

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Volunteers Week - Ron

This volunteering week we’d like to highlight the brilliant work of our Maurice House volunteer, Ron Sadler. For more stories visit: http://fal.cn/BKFO

Ron served in the RAF for 18 years and now volunteers at our care home where he has been running the bar since 1999. Every weekend he looks after stock and also sits on the amenities committee. Ron’s wife is also a volunteer, helping out in the bar and doing the mail run on Saturdays.

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Volunteers Week - Lisa

Lisa McKinlay is one of our wonderful Poppy Appeal organisers running local fundraising activities in Lancashire. For more stories visit: http://fal.cn/BKQz

She started volunteering for us following the death of her husband, Lance Corporal John McKinlay who was killed while on patrol in Afghanistan. Lisa helps with the Poppy Appeal to keep John’s memory alive and support members of the Armed Forces community.

Thank you to Lisa and all of our volunteers, giving their precious time to support our Armed Forces community all year round!

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Volunteers Week - Denis

Denis Cook is a volunteer for The Royal British Legion’s National Memorial Arboretum, helping with marketing and fundraising activities. Since starting in 2012 his work has been varied, making signs, working with databases, and researching and preparing articles for the NMA’s magazine, and he’s recently undertaken a Tour Guide position.

Denis said: “Volunteering at the Arboretum is a pleasure and a privilege. It is very rewarding to be able to show visitors around and to hear their comments about the landscape, the memorials, and what we have achieved here.” #VolunteersWeek

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Dementiaville - Craig

“Each time I come into work, I have absolutely no idea what I’m going to find. My job is to delve into the past lives of 30 very different human beings”

Craig Edser is the Activities Co-ordinator at our Poppy Lodge dementia care unit at Galanos House. 

He was a martial arts instructor for 20 years, owned a pub and a removals firm. Poppy Lodge Matron Manager, Jo-Anne noticed the natural flair he had with the residents and his ability to put everyone at ease and offered him the role of Activities Coordinator. Craig has been with us for nearly 3 years. 

His unique approach to working with residents living with dementia is featured in a new Channel 4 documentary, Dementiaville airing tonight at 9pm: http://fal.cn/BB_W...

Make sure to tweet us your thoughts on @PoppyLegion using #Dementiaville. 

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Dementiaville - Les

Les Headley is a resident at our Poppy Lodge dementia care unit at Galanos House. His story, of working on cars with his father, will be told in Dementiaville, a new Channel 4 documentary showing this Thursday at 9pm. http://fal.cn/BBXp Les was born and raised in Coventry, and went to work in the Riley car factory with his dad in 1937. This is the period in time which Les reverts to regularly and he’s often found looking for his father. The Poppy Lodge staff goes to great lengths in maintaining Les’s wellbeing, entering into ‘his reality’ in order to keep those memories alive. Les is often visited by his children Alan and Sue who have wonderful memories of their father: “He loved driving and his weakness was cars…. Dad would buy a new car instead of saving up to buy a house.“

Watch the documentary to see how Les is happily surprised when he’s taken for a chauffeur-driven ride in an original Riley.

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Vounteers Week - Sylvia

This #VolunteersWeek we’d like to thank our amazing volunteer Sylvia Newnham who has dedicated 41 years of her life to helping the residents and staff of our Maurice House care home in Kent. 

 Aged just 18, Sylvia started work as an assistant cook in 1965. She stayed in her role for 33 years, before retiring in 1998 to look after her elderly mum and dad. Now 68 years old, she’s returned to Maurice House as a volunteer after her parents passed away.

 Sylvia is still going strong, playing a vital role in providing quality day care support to our Armed Forces community.

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Dementia Documentary - Jo-Anne's Story

Jo-Anne Wilson is the Matron Manager of our Poppy Lodge dementia care unit at Galanos House. Her progressive approach to the care of people living with dementia is featured in a new Channel 4 documentary, Dementiaville this Thursday at 9pm.

Jo-Anne started working in the elderly care sector in 1997 specialising in dementia and gained a variety of dementia-related qualifications and a teaching certificate. She joined the Legion’s Galanos House in 2003 and used her experience to set up the specialist dementia unit Poppy Lodge in 2011. She has played a key role in developing the home, working with Dementia Care Matters  to become a Butterfly Service accredited home. 

Wondering what Butterfly Service is? Visit: http://fal.cn/B8eq...

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Volunteers Week - Emily

This #VolunteersWeek we’d like to thank our lovely volunteer, Emily Horswill for helping the local Armed Forces community at our Pop In Centre in Plymouth. 

Emily comes from a military family — her dad was in the Royal Navy and her uncle is currently serving in the Army — and she’s due to attend Sandhurst in January for officer training to join the Army. She joined our team to learn more about some of the services and charities that she might be sending soldiers to one day.

Speaking about her role, Emily said: “In speaking to Service personnel and their families it helps you understand some of the issues people face. It broadens the breadth of my experience.”

Thank you to Emily and all of our volunteers, giving their precious time to support our Armed Forces community all year round!