Paralysed dad thanks volunteer builders for home adaptations

A father-of-four who was left paralysed after a fall has thanked 60 volunteers who adapted his home.

Rob Lamb suffered a spinal cord injury when he fainted in October, leaving him paralysed from the chest down.

The Band of Builders charity spent nine days making his Solihull home safe and accessible.

The 58-year-old Scotsman, who was greeted back home by applause and bagpipes, said: "Everything is top notch".

The volunteers made the kitchen more accessible

"It's surreal. It's just fantastic," he said. "I can't believe everything that has been done in such a short period of time."

The work was carried out before his return home from a rehabilitation centre near Oswestry, Shropshire.

Work by the volunteer tradespeople from across the country included creating a downstairs bedroom and wet room with specialist equipment.

Mr Lamb, a quantity surveyor, who was widowed when his wife Julie died suddenly in 2017, lives with his sons Callum, Gavin and Mackenzie.

Rob Lamb said he was moved by the reception he was given from neighbours

It took nine days to convert the home

He said he was moved by the reception he was given.

"Just coming down the street and hearing the sound of the pipes - whatever happens you always cry when you hear the pipes," he said.

"It is at time like this, you see how many good people there are in this world. I think I've met a lot of them today."

His son Gavin said the changes were "amazing to see" and praised the volunteers.

"These guys stepped in - were we left on our own, we wouldn't have even known where to go," he said.

Robert Lamb, pictured third left, with Callum, Gavin, his late wife Julie, Tara and Mackenzie

Volunteer Craig Cashmore said it was one of the biggest projects the charity had carried out.

"It's so important that the home he comes back to isn't just safe, but is somewhere he can live comfortably and happily," he said.

He added neighbours had also chipped in with cups of tea, "feeding us and watering us".

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