Erskine Celebrates 80^th Anniversary of the Army Benevolent Fund

Erskine is delighted to celebrate the 80^th anniversary of the Army Benevolent Fund. The ABF was established on 15^th August 1944 to provide a lifetime of support to soldiers, former soldiers and their families. The ABF has been a generous long-term supporter of Erskine’s services for Army Veterans and their spouses. We would like to thank everyone at the ABF again for their outstanding generosity and wish them all the best on this special day. #ABF80 #ForSoldiersForLife #Together

At present, about two-thirds of Erskine’s care home residents are Army beneficiaries. One of these residents is Billy Haynes, a 73-year-old Army Veteran who was born in Rothesay on the Isle of Bute. Bill left school at 15 and worked in the catering business in Rothesay until he was 17 when he signed up for the Army Catering Corps and began his military life.

Billy went to the BAOR (British Army of the Rhine) in Germany where he served as a Chef for a mixture of British/Dutch/German and Belgian soldiers. He was based in the Headquarters of the British Army of the Rhine from 1968 to 1973 and absolutely loved it, and later went to Catterick and the Royal Corps Transport 60 Squadron. Even in the role of Chef he saw two tours of Northern Ireland where was out on manoeuvres to give the regular soldiers a rest. He says that this frontline service was nerve-racking.

When Bill returned to Civvy Street after nine years, he came back to Scotland. He started up his own business and ran an ice cream van in Motherwell. He then started working with children living with special needs, all the while baking wedding cakes amongst other things for the many people who loved his baking.

Unfortunately Bill suffered from slipped discs which he still lives with today. This has kept him confined to a wheelchair for the majority of the time. Bill moved into McKellar House at The Erskine Home, Bishopton in early 2020. After his incredibly difficult time stuck in various hospital beds, he was delighted to start enjoying a more active life again with the help of Erskine’s enhanced care services.

Since coming to Erskine and working with the Physiotherapy team, Billy is back on his feet again and can walk for short distances with assistance. He proved how far he has come by walking to lay a wreath on behalf of Erskine’s Veterans at the Armistice Day Service at The Erskine Home, Bishopton on 11^th November. He enjoys spending time with his family and has nine grandchildren.

“The House staff and Erskine in general is second to none, I don’t know where I would be without everyone and what they have done for me.”

 “The Physio staff have got me up and moving again and I enjoy going to the events that are always on. I enjoy taking part in the annual Sporting Senior Games which is great fun and so is the Award Ceremony and the lovely afternoon tea, it is always a good afternoon. I was also lucky enough to take part in a Kiltwalk too, the staff were amazing. I enjoy getting out in the beautiful grounds and sometimes we are ferried around on the tandem bikes.”

 “I am very lucky to have had a great career – the good times outweighed any bad times and I’m now enjoying being here in Erskine being cared for by such a dedicated team of people.”

Bill is one of many brave Army Veterans at Erskine who benefits from a high quality of life, despite his complex health needs, thanks to the continued generosity of the Army Benevolent Fund. Erskine is hugely proud to help Scotland’s Veterans and their families access the best possible care and support when they need it most.  For more information on the ABF’s work, please visit https://armybenevolentfund.org/.