As Remembrance Sunday approaches, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, has paid tribute to Inverclyde’s veterans of conflicts both recent and distant.
Press Release
4th November 2003
Remembering
Inverclyde’s Veterans
As
Remembrance Sunday approaches, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil,
has paid tribute to Inverclyde’s veterans of conflicts both recent and
distant.
Speaking
while visiting former constituents at Erskine Hospital, which cares for
ex-service personnel, he said:
“It
is important that we never forget the sacrifice which our armed services have
made and the debt we owe them. Twice
in the last century, a whole generation of young men were willing to give their
lives so we might enjoy the freedom we take for granted today.
More recently, our troops have helped liberate countries from invading
armies and protect communities from the horrors of ethnic cleansing.
“It is therefore a great honour to meet so many old Greenockians who have served their country with such distinction.
“People
like David Wilson and Billy Melvin – both long-term residents.
And others, like Eddie Kane, currently at Erskine for respite care. It
was also good to meet local men like Charlie Stewart – one of the volunteers
who are essential in keeping the hospital running smoothly.”
Erskine
Hospital was established in 1916 to care for the wounded returning from the
battlefields of the First World War. The
hospital continued its work through World War Two and today cares for more than
400 ex-service men and women, ranging from World War veterans to casualties of
the Falklands, the Gulf, Bosnia and Northern Ireland.
The
hospital also runs a number of workshops which provide rewarding employment for
those Hospital residents able to work, ex-service personnel and disabled people.
Mr
McNeil continued:
“It
was also good to see so many people from the Inverclyde area employed in the
workshops. Indeed, most of the
print shop staff are from the Inverclyde area.”
During
Mr McNeil’s visit, Colonel Robert Steele, Director of Support Services, spoke
warmly of the support which the hospital receives from the local Army Cadets,
Regimental Associations, The Gourock Ex-servicemen’s Club and Mrs Mollie Craig
of Gourock, who recently received the MBE for her fundraising efforts.
Mr McNeil concluded:
“Anyone
who wishes to support the great work being done at Erskine Hospital by joining
the ranks of volunteers can call Carol Nelson, West of Scotland Area Co-ordinator,
on 0141 814 4551.
ENDS
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