23 Nov Colchester Recovery Centre Remembers
Military charity Help for Heroes welcomed their President, General the Lord Dannatt, to their Recovery Centre in Colchester earlier today.
The retired Chief of General Staff visited to plant three trees to commemorate 100 years since the end of the First World War and also to honour our current veterans.
The trees are a welcomed addition to the ‘Hope on the Horizon’ garden, which was recently awarded a ‘Living Landscapes Award’ by Essex Wildlife Trust. The charity has been working with the conservation trust on various projects to make their garden more interactive.
Ann Scott, Help for Heroes Marcomms Officer, said: “Our garden is extremely well used; from Pilates sessions to family BBQs. The various projects have taught our veterans new skills, their wellbeing has been enhanced by being outdoors and it’s helped create friendships for future peer support”.
The oak tree has been kindly donated by Camilla Kinton who is the great niece of Captain Noel Godfrey Chavasse. The Help for Heroes Recovery Centre, called Chavasse VC House; is named after her great uncle who is the only double Victoria Cross holder from the First World War. She recently visited with her sister, Julia Hatfield, who stated that it was a very fitting tribute as Noel wasn’t just concerned with treating physical wounds but also hidden wounds; the same approach that Help for Heroes takes.
Lord Dannatt also planted two rowan saplings which were kindly donated by Cllr Chris Amos from Tendring District Council. They were allocated some trees by the Woodland Trust as part of the Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Canopy.
