Co Fermanagh veteran Roy's life transformed through support from the Royal British Legion after he required surgery

He rang the helpline and was referred to case officer, Laura, who supported him by organising private transportation in a wheelchair accessible vehicle so he could travel to and from the hospital in comfort. When Roy needed a knee replacement months later, the RBL stepped up once more to get him safely to and from the hospital.

Roy said: “Laura has been brilliant. She really has been terrific. There are people who just do their jobs and there are people who do that little bit more. And that’s Laura.”

Alongside the support for Roy’s surgeries, the RBL also delivered a whole range of support services to transform Roy’s life for the better. The charity paid for his household goods to be moved to a new accessible property, provided a laptop to help with social isolation, secured funding for a mobility car and scooter and assisted him with energy costs for a six-month period through the RBL Energy Grant Scheme.

Roy said he was blown away by the constant support provided.

“Barely a week went by without Laura calling to check how I was…It was unbelievable. When you live on your own and there’s nobody else calling, that phone call means an awful lot. She’s been an angel to me.”

Laura said she was proud to provide support for the Army veteran.

“Roy is an incredible individual with a great sense of humour, so we are proud to offer him with a range of solutions that have made a difference to his quality of life. This is just one example of how the RBL in Northern Ireland uses the donations that people make during the Poppy Appeal every single year.”

Roy’s life has seen him face a lot of challenging times – including spending lots of time in the care system growing up. Upon turning 18, Roy followed one of the care worker’s suggestions and joined the Army, an idea which was bolstered by the fact that both Roy’s father and grandfather had served. Whilst in service, Roy played rugby for his regiment. His success on the pitch even saw him join the Army Rugby Union team, taking part in games against the RAF. He joked: “That’s why I’ve got a bad back, bad hip and bad knee!”.

Following his time in the service, Roy has worked hard to be a community champion for both his hometown of Leeds and his community in Co Fermanagh, from setting up a football club to creating a charity for the poor and homeless.