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GREENOCK MORTON FANS RAISE £1400 FOR VETERANS CHARITY ERSKINE

A group of kind hearted Greenock Morton fans have raised a fantastic amount of £1400 for Erskine. The group held raffles, race nights and football events including a top prize of a limousine trip to see Morton versus Hamilton.

Four of the group, who all work at the East Kilbride Shopping Centre, paid a visit to The Erskine Home to hand over the cash. Graeme McIntyre, a veteran himself, works in the security department of the shopping centre said “we wanted to raise some money for the veterans in Erskine. Initially we hoped to raise £200 but we were amazed at the generosity of the public, when they found out that the cause was Erskine they just couldn’t give enough! We would like to thank the staff and management of the shopping centre for all of their help in raising the money.”

Neil Littlewood said “This is the first time we have seen the Erskine Home, and to say I am impressed would be an understatement. The camaraderie between the veterans is great and listening to their stories makes me feel very humble.”

Erskine’s Chief Executive Colonel Martin Gibson said “This fantastic amount of £1400 will directly benefit the residents in our Erskine Home and I would like to express my gratitude for all of the hard work that has been put in to raise this money. This donation to The Erskine Home will help to provide the care that our veterans so richly deserve.”

Pictured from left to right are Gary McQuiston, Neil Littlewood, Graeme McIntyre(Scots Greys), John McConnell and Erskine Veterans Alan Hodgart (A&SH), Alex Blair (RE) and Jack Russell (RA).

AREA 51 CELEBRATE

Area 51 celebrated their 1st birthday in style by holding a Raffle and a Bucket collection in South Elgin Street, Clydebank.  They raised £482.00 which has been donated to Erskine. 

Happy Birthday Area 51.

TWO SCOTS VISIT ERSKINE

Recently seven soldiers, bound for Afghanistan, came to meet Erskine’s ex-Service men and women before leaving on their 6 month tour of duty.   Sergeant Terry Lowe, 29, said “Meeting the veterans is an honour and reminds us of what has been done before”.  Erskine veteran, Alex Blair, 92, who spent two years behind enemy lines in Italy during World War II, told of how delighted he was to meet the young soldiers.  Pictured below are Erskine veterans Grant Smith, Alex Lees, George Blair, Alan Archibald and Bill McDowall and 2 SCOTS soldiers.

CHARITY HAIRCUT

The highlight of a recent social evening at the Bridge of Weir RBLS was a “Haircut for Charity”.   A very brave Colin McKay volunteered to have his flowing locks cut off in aid of Erskine.  Over £500.00 was raised.   Pictured below are the “Before & After” shots.

KBR (UK) PLAQUE

The RSM of The Royal Scots Borderers 1st Battalion The Royal  Regiment of Scotland sent Erskine a KBR (UK) plaque, which will be displayed in The Erskine Home.

ROYAL SEAL OF APPROVAL FOR NEW ERSKINE GLASGOW

HRH The Princess Royal officially opened the new state of the art Erskine Glasgow Home on 19th February 2008. She met with many of the residents currently being cared for as, well as their families within the new care home. For the official opening The Princess Royal wore an Erskine Veterans Tartan skirt which reflects the heritage and history of the Scottish Regiments, the Royal Navy and The Royal Air Force.

During the tour of the new Home, The Princess Royal met many of the residents. After the official opening of The Erskine Glasgow Home, The Princess Royal attended a private reception at the Hilton Grosvenor Hotel and met with many of the charity’s supporters including Glasgow Airport Hero John Smeaton.

Erskine’s Chief Executive, Colonel Martin Gibson, said, “Last year Erskine cared for over 1300 veterans, between 22 and 100 years old, from all three of the Armed Forces. The Erskine Glasgow Home will enable us to care for a further 46 veterans within Glasgow, and it is fitting that more than 90 years after the charity was founded in Glasgow City Chambers we now have a modern state of the art care home within the city.” 

SCOTLAND'S FIRST MINISTER LAYS THE FOUNDATIONS FOR ERSKINE'S EDINBURGH VETERANS

Scotlands First Minister, Mr Alex Salmond MSP, laid the first foundations in the new purpose-built, Edinburgh care-home at an official ceremony on Wednesday 6th February Mr Salmond laid the first brick in the new development before meeting and talking with some of Erskines veterans.

Mr Salmond laid the first brick in the new development before meeting and talking with some of Erskines veterans. "Our service men and women do an outstanding job and it is only right that our veterans receive the high quality care and treatment they deserve.

The Scottish Government recognises its responsibility to those who serve in the armed forces. That is why, in November, we extended NHS priority treatment to include those who have served in the Armed Forces. And that is why I am delighted to be here today to help celebrate the extension of Edinburghs home for Veterans and of the great work of Erskine."

Over the past 90 years Erskine has been helping ex-Service men and women, supporting them in a high quality of life, and helping them to overcome obstacles. I am proud to have the opportunity to support their vital work.

The new 48 bed Edinburgh home will be completed in the summer of 2009 and will bring 90 new jobs to Scotlands capital. The home will include high quality care facilities such as on-site physiotherapy, speech therapy, recreational activities and specialist dementia care. Respect for residents dignity is at the core of Erskines care, and the services available in the new Edinburgh home will ensure this high-standard is continued. Pictured here are Scotlands First Minister, Mr Alex Salmond MSP and actress Eileen McCallum

CRAMOND KIRK

The wonderful sum of 7275 was raised over the Christmas period for Erskine by the Cramond Kirk. Colonel Martin Gibson and residents Colonel Jim Elliot and Archie Brown met with Alan and June Kemp and Dr Russell Barr of the Cramond Kirk to receive the cheque. Pictured from left to right are Colonel Elliot, June Kemp, Colonel Gibson, Dr Russell Barr, Alan Kemp and Archie Brown

MSP VISIT

On Friday 18th January Erskine Edinburgh was delighted to welcome MSP Gavin Brown for a visit. Pictured are Colonel Gibson and Mr Brown.

THE AWALI CALEDONIAN SOCIETY, ST ANDREWS NIGHT DINNER 2007

Our Chief Executive, Colonel Martin Gibson, was invited to travel to Bahrain to be the guest speaker at the prestigious Awali Caledonian Society St Andrews Night Dinner.

Over the last 10 years the Awali Caledonian Society have raised over 10,000 for the work of Erskine in caring for veterans.

The 250 guests who attended the event, held in the Bahrain Petroleum Company Club, arrived to a champagne reception and to be entertained by the combined Pipe Bands of the Bahrain Police and the Bahrain Defence Force. The Societys President, Andy McAlpine, and his hard-working committee ensured a very enjoyable celebration of Scotlands Patron Saint.

After an excellent dinner and speeches, which had to be both Scottish and light-hearted with the obvious need to talk about Erskines charitable role in Scotland - everyone took to the floor to enjoy the Scottish dancing with music from the well known Glencraig Scottish Dance Band
(e-mail: glencraigband@btinternet.com) from Perthshire. The Band has played all round the world and certainly ensured that the vast majority of people at the Ball danced into the wee small hours.