Oliver Leese Court

11/11/2019

11/11/2019

Over this remembrance weekend we are honouring those who have served in the armed forces to protect us and our freedom. We are proud of our roots with Royal British Legion housing disabled ex-servicemen and widows in 1921.

Doug is one of our residents at Richard Sharples Court. He saw wartime service in Italy during the Second World War and has recently carried out an interview with Commonwealth War Graves Commission, documenting his first hand account. You can hear the interviews via the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website: https://liberation.cwgc.org/voices-of-liberation

11/11/2019

Des is one of our residents at Bowman Court in Blackburn. He joined up when he was 17 and enlisted in the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers (REME) for basic training. His first overseas posting was to Kenya during the Mau Mau crisis and drove a one tonne Morris around camp. In his 20s he was posted to patrol Radfan during the Aden Emergency and witnessed his friend being killed when a gr***de was thrown into the back of the vehicle he was travelling in.

Des was later transferred to the 16/5th Queens Royal Lances and left the Army in 1969.

By this time he had been a part time member of the Royal British Legion since the 1950s, so he decided to become a full time member. He is now the president of the Blackburn branch after holding several county offices since the 1990s.

He said "I play an active role - as much as my legs allow me! - and I have been responsible for the welfare of ex-servicemen and their families. I will be on parade on Sunday representing the Royal British Legion and I also attend the match day before remembrance Sunday at our local football club, Blackburn Rovers, where I am invited to place the football on to the centre spot."

He received medals for his Africa General Service in Kenya and a Saudi Arabia Radfan service medal.

11/11/2019

Reg is 91 and now lives at Bowman Court in Blackburn. He served in the Parachute Regiment which he joined in 1945 where his first posting was to Italy, followed by Palestine in 1946.

Reg said "I enjoyed my service and found it strict, but it must have been easier than previous, as all the hard work had been done during the war!"

11/11/2019

Robert, a resident at Dayton Court, served for 17 years in the Royal Engineers. 13 of these were spent in the Middle East.

11/11/2019

Some great stories of our residents.

Jack was just 23 years old when he went off to the D-day landings with the Royal Air Force. This year he's celebrated his 99th birthday at William Griffiths Court in Blackburn. Jack continued his career as a wireless operator with the RAF until 1947.

28/10/2019

Are you celebrating 🎃 this weekend?
Stay safe and respect those who don't want to take part. Please watch out for these signs - some residents may not welcome numerous callers to their door as they can find it very unnerving.
Download and print your own copy here: socsi.in/OVX1h

28/10/2019

First post from Oliver Leese Court on a frosty, misty day in Stafford. Sunshine is about to burst through so residents and staff can enjoy our beautiful gardens.

28/10/2019

Misty October Morning at Oliver Leese Court