Veterans to garden rescue of ex-serviceman

RAF veteran Robert Lewis, centre, pictured with fellow veterans Gareth Humphrey (right) and Toby Ecclestone (left)

A military veteran has arranged for a team of volunteers to tidy the garden and home of a fellow veteran who is caring for his wife full time.

Gareth Humphrey met 75-year-old Robert Lewis from Stafford at the veterans coffee morning he runs, and heard how the former RAF serviceman's property had fallen into "disrepair" in the six years since his wife became ill.

It felt "absolutely fantastic" to have a team offering help, said Mr Lewis, who hoped it meant his wife Angela would be able to get back into the garden in her wheelchair.

Mr Humphrey said being able to arrange support for a fellow former member of the armed forces in need gave him immense pride.

The garden has become overgrown in the six years since Mr Lewis's wife became ill, and he became her full-time carer

"We have a saying in the military, it's called the buddy-buddy system... you don't need to look behind you, because you know your buddy is going to be there," said Mr Humphrey.

Once the large garden had been cleared of six years of growth, attention would turn to the house, he added.

Mr Lewis said he had been asking for help for all that time, and "all of sudden I meet Gareth, and that's it, we're off".

The veteran said his wife, who was very poorly, just wanted to enjoy the garden again, and they were "very humbled" by the help.