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SPECIALISTS on Europe’s biggest asbestos strip at Chapelcross have turned Good Samaritans for injured war heroes.
Warrington-based Kitsons Environmental Ltd answered a call for help from Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Armed Forces Champion, Archie Dryburgh, last week.
South West Scotland RnR is a local charity which gives rehabilitation holidays to soldiers wounded on active service.
However, two separate fires in February at the home in Carsethorn, near New Abbey, have meant that extensive fundraising and a campaign to get it back into operation has been steadily under way.
In May part of it was able to be reopened but much work is still needed on the rest of the property.
The charity’s founder Jennefer Tobin is keen to continue the work so that it can get back to its capacity of accommodating up to 170 injured soldiers.
And with money tight she turned to Councillor Dryburgh to see if he could help with much-needed scaffolding so builders can get on with the next stage of exterior work.
Archie, who works at the former Chapelcross Nuclear Power Station near Annan, said: “Jennefer said that they were struggling to get a scaffolding company because of lack of money. Yet they need to move on with redoing flashings and pointing work and so on.
“I asked our partners at Chapelcross if they could supply scaffolding for the work and Kitsons said no problem; they measured up on Wednesday and started and finished the build on the Thursday. This contracting firm are very community orientated. I asked for help and they answered the call. Southwest Scotland RnR is one of the charities I have been working with, in my champion’s role to ensure that these serving personnel get some much needed support.
“When I advised Kitsons management of what the charity did for our forces people they couldn’t have been any more helpful and I cannot thank them enough.”
Jennefer said: “Without their help we could not have moved on as quickly.”
Kitsons’ scaffolding manager Joe Reynolds, said: “Our armed forces deserve our gratitude for what they do on our behalf and if it is something like putting a scaffold up then it was the least we could do.”
Kitsons are also one of the main sponsors for Annan Athletic whose chairman Henry McClelland says the gesture has touched everyone at the club.
He said: “Without the support of companies like Magnox Chapelcross and Kitsons, Annan Athletic couldn’t do the community programmes it has done for years. Archie is our First Aid officer and when he told me about what Kitsons had done, how one of our main sponsors at Annan Athletic, have helped our armed forces, I can only say that I am chuffed to bits. Good on them!”
This week 10 marines from 42 Commando are staying at the house after just returning from Afghanistan for the start of their rehabilitation process.
Anyone who wishes to help the charity either with fundraising or by helping with their activities can get in touch with Miss Tobin by e-mailing jennefer.tobin@btinternet.com
Source: Dumfries & Galloway Standard
Warrington-based Kitsons Environmental Ltd answered a call for help from Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Armed Forces Champion, Archie Dryburgh, last week.
South West Scotland RnR is a local charity which gives rehabilitation holidays to soldiers wounded on active service.
However, two separate fires in February at the home in Carsethorn, near New Abbey, have meant that extensive fundraising and a campaign to get it back into operation has been steadily under way.
In May part of it was able to be reopened but much work is still needed on the rest of the property.
The charity’s founder Jennefer Tobin is keen to continue the work so that it can get back to its capacity of accommodating up to 170 injured soldiers.
And with money tight she turned to Councillor Dryburgh to see if he could help with much-needed scaffolding so builders can get on with the next stage of exterior work.
Archie, who works at the former Chapelcross Nuclear Power Station near Annan, said: “Jennefer said that they were struggling to get a scaffolding company because of lack of money. Yet they need to move on with redoing flashings and pointing work and so on.
“I asked our partners at Chapelcross if they could supply scaffolding for the work and Kitsons said no problem; they measured up on Wednesday and started and finished the build on the Thursday. This contracting firm are very community orientated. I asked for help and they answered the call. Southwest Scotland RnR is one of the charities I have been working with, in my champion’s role to ensure that these serving personnel get some much needed support.
“When I advised Kitsons management of what the charity did for our forces people they couldn’t have been any more helpful and I cannot thank them enough.”
Jennefer said: “Without their help we could not have moved on as quickly.”
Kitsons’ scaffolding manager Joe Reynolds, said: “Our armed forces deserve our gratitude for what they do on our behalf and if it is something like putting a scaffold up then it was the least we could do.”
Kitsons are also one of the main sponsors for Annan Athletic whose chairman Henry McClelland says the gesture has touched everyone at the club.
He said: “Without the support of companies like Magnox Chapelcross and Kitsons, Annan Athletic couldn’t do the community programmes it has done for years. Archie is our First Aid officer and when he told me about what Kitsons had done, how one of our main sponsors at Annan Athletic, have helped our armed forces, I can only say that I am chuffed to bits. Good on them!”
This week 10 marines from 42 Commando are staying at the house after just returning from Afghanistan for the start of their rehabilitation process.
Anyone who wishes to help the charity either with fundraising or by helping with their activities can get in touch with Miss Tobin by e-mailing jennefer.tobin@btinternet.com
Source: Dumfries & Galloway Standard