Giles from the Royal Marines
Having joined the Royal Marines at 16 years old, it was not long before Giles was working alongside US Special Forces, protecting and re-homing Kurds made homeless by Saddam Hussein. It wasn’t until his return from a second operation to destroy enemy weapons that Giles started to feel unwell. Weeks of investigation finally showed that he had a serious stomach condition.
Despite being prescribed very strong medication, it soon became apparent that at 19 years old Giles simply could not continue in the career he loved. After his discharge not only did his condition worsen but he also became isolated from society, feeling that no-one from ‘civvie street’ could empathise with him or appreciate the massive upheaval in his life.
It wasn’t until he found out about a Seafarers UK grant recipient, that Giles was at last able to share his experiences with a network of ex-service people who he could relate to. He now regularly participates in events and get-togethers and can get the vital support and understanding that is just not available anywhere else.
Alex from the Royal Navy
Having served in the Royal Navy for 5 years, Alex joined his brothers as a fisherman in Peterhead. After 8 years a severe slump in the industry left him unemployed, so he decided to head to London to look for work. This proved difficult and his money soon ran out.
Like so many other former seafarers in this position it wasn’t long before long Alex was sleeping rough and selling the Big Issue just to survive. On the streets he became very vulnerable and his health deteriorated to the point where he was diagnosed with paranoid psychosis.
Fortunately Alex has come along way since those dark days and thanks to Seafarers UK’s generous contribution to a specialist rehabilitation programme, Alex is being integrated back into the community and eventually he hopes to retrain for work. For the first time in a long time Alex says he feels secure.
Taking care of our veterans
Pat, aged 86 years, has lived at the Erskine Care Home in Renfrewshire, which cares for ex-Service men and women throughout Scotland, since 1991. He served in The Royal Navy in the Second World War escorting the convoys carrying supplies to Russia. His unit sank the first enemy sub of the war, the U40. Pat survived the freezing Arctic conditions, although a lot of his comrades were lost. Back in Portsmouth he managed to come through the heavy bombing without serious injury.
Since the mid-sixties Pat has suffered serious health problems and has undergone five major operations. Initially admitted to Erskine for respite care, Pat was eventually admitted as a permanent resident.
As an ex-seafarer, Pat benefits from all the modern facilities and care now available in the new purpose-built care home which was part funded by a Seafarers UK grant. Last year Erskine received a grant of £8,953.
A Hull fisherman's widow receives support to raise her sons
Joyce McCarthy was widowed when her husband Ron was lost overboard from his fishing boat following an accident. Joyce was tragically and suddenly left to bring up three sons aged 14, 13 and 5 years of age on her own.
The Hull Fisherman's Trust Fund stepped in to support her and, like the other beneficiaries of the Fund, Joyce is very grateful for the support she has received from them.
Joyce is sadly not alone: every year twenty fishermen die at sea. The Hull Fishermen’s Trust Fund is one of the organisations supporting their families. Ray Brookes, the Secretary of the Fund, keeps in regular contact with all the beneficiaries of the Fund. He reiterates their appreciation of the role Seafarers UK plays in maintaining financial support for the Fund, which last year resulted in a grant of £70,000.
A different attitude to life
Mike Marten was a clearance diver in the Royal Navy when he was involved in the most harrowing of tasks: that of removing the dead bodies buried in thick mud in the upturned hull of the Herald of Free Enterprise in 1987.
Within months tragedy was to enter Mike's life when he broke his neck in a water skiing accident and became paralysed. Faced with a different set of challenges Mike found a valuable route to rehabilitation through the British Ex-Services Wheelchair Sports Association (BEWSA). A KGFS grant to BEWSA made it possible for Mike to take part in the Paralysed Veterans Wheelchair Games.
Mike is one of thousands of ex-servicemen from the Royal Navy and Merchant Navy who have been helped to build a new life by King George's Fund for Sailors, now known as Seafarers UK.
Help for a Hull fisherman's widow
Ann Shaffi pictured here with Ray Brookes, Secretary of the Hull Fishermen’s Trust Fund
Ann Shaffi was a young housewife with 4 children when her husband David, aged only 38 years, died as a result of an accident on board a Hull registered fishing vessel.
Left as a single parent with a drastically reduced income Ann was forced to take up part-time employment. Thankfully the Hull Fishermen’s Trust came to Ann's aid with a weekly benefit which has helped to reduce the financial burden. Ann will never forget the spiritual comfort and financial kindness shown to her and her family when tragedy struck so dramatically.
Ann is sadly not alone: every year twenty fishermen die at sea. The Hull Fishermen’s Trust Fund is one of the organisations supporting their families. Ray Brookes, the Secretary of the Fund (shown here with Ann), keeps in regular contact with all the beneficiaries of the Fund. He reiterates their appreciation of the role Seafarers UK plays in maintaining financial support for the Fund, which last year resulted in a grant of £70,000.
Care for the veterans
84-year-old Gladys Clark served in the Royal Navy from 1941 to 1946, based in Scotland. After the war Gladys married. Her husband, Samuel, was another former sailor and they had many happy years together until he sadly died in 1977.
This saw the start of a real battle for Gladys. In 1978 she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Gladys eventually became wheelchair bound and as she could no longer cope on her own she was admitted 7 years ago to the Erskine Care Home in Renfrewshire, which cares for ex-Service men and women throughout Scotland.
As an ex-seafarer Gladys benefits from all the modern facilities and care now available in the new purpose-built care home which was part funded by a Seafarers UK grant. Last year Erskine received a grant of £8,953.
Royal Navy & Royal Marines Childrens Fund
Chloe Orchard and her family Six year-old Chloe Orchard pictured here with her dad, Gary, sister, Amberley and mum, Mandy, is one of the 3,000 children helped by the Children’s Fund since it was established in 1998. Chloe has cerebral palsy and a grant from the Fund has bought a shiny red Supatrike to keep her mobile, as well as a large computer keyboard and joystick to cope with her special needs.
Help when the unexpected happens
After leaving the Royal Navy, Lieutenant Talan Skeel-Perkins took up a career in teaching. At the young age of 32 he was left permanently paralysed from the waist down following a road traffic accident. This ended his ambition to be sports teacher.
Whilst he was still in a hospital spinal unit, Talan approached The Officers' Association for help and following liaison with the local authority, the RNOBC and the Teachers' Support Network his home was adapted to assist him in his life in a wheelchair.
The Association's help has enabled him to concentrate on planning to participate in the 2006 Winter Paralympics as a skier. Talan is currently looking for sponsorship: you can find out more about his valiant efforts on his website: www.talan.info
The Officers' Association received a grant of £15,500 from Seafarers UK last year.
Helping Veteran Seafarers
Broughton House was established in 1916 to care for service men who suffered injury during the First World War. Today the Home is dual registered to accommodate 56 Ex-Service personnel. Long term, short stay respite care and daycare are available. Seafarers UK makes regular grants to assist in the care of veteran seafarers. Last year the Grant was £10,000.
Royal Alfred Seafarers’ Society: Belvedere House.
Jack and his neighbours This new complex in Surrey was built with help from Seafarers UK. A grant of £250,000 was made towards the development costs. The new accommodation offers a wonderful environment for veteran seafarers and for some it is the best quality of life they have ever experienced.
One such story belongs to Jack. His mother died giving birth to him and he was brought up by an aunt. In 1940 he joined the Royal Navy as an Ordinary Seaman. Sadly Jack was discharged from the Service on medical grounds four years later. His health deteriorated and in 1948 he was admitted to a psychiatric institution where he remained for 39 years until it was closed down. After a stay in a South London Hospital he was admitted to the old Belvedere House in Banstead where he settled suprisingly well in his new home. More recently Jack moved to the new Belvedere House where for the first time in 52 years he has his own bedroom and toilet. Jack is a man of few words but summed up his feelings on a visit to the newly opened bar when he told the General Secretary ‘I like this place’.
Support for the daughter of a Gulf War veteran
Zoe is 18 and in her final year at the Royal School in Haslemere, Surrey. She tells her story.
'I was fortunate to come to the Royal School 7 years ago on a grant partly funded by Seafarers UK. My dad served in the Royal Navy and suffered a very serious car accident when he was on duty in the first Gulf War. He was flown back to a London Hospital where he was a patient for a long time. This was hard for our family as we were living in Hampshire. Dad was eventually discharged from hospital but still needed a considerable amount of care. The time came for me to move up to senior school and my parents decided it would be best for me to go to a boarding school. I was fortunate to gain a place at The Royal School and I am very grateful to Seafarers UK for the grant which gave me an excellent education and taught me how to value my independence.'
Last year Seafarers UK made a grant of £3,000 to the Royal School.