An Abingdon man is able to leave his house again, thanks to a donation organised by Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association and the Vale Housing Association. Mr Nelson Short, 81, of Ashgate in South Abingdon was housebound for months after he developed emphysema but with a little help from his friends he's now on the move again.
Mr Short explained, I spent nearly a year without being able to leave the house at all. Just getting up and walking into the kitchen would start me off coughing so there was no chance of going any further. I tried to get an electric buggy from Social Services a couple of times but had no luck. One day I was talking to Andrea Trask, the scheme manager from the Vale Housing Association, and asked her whether she could think of any other way. She said she'd certainly try her best.
Mrs Trask got in contact with SSAFA, the charity connected with the armed forces. Mr Short had served in the Oxford and Bucks regiment during the Second World War and had spent four years in POW camps in Poland. Mr Ted Perkins of SSAFA, together with help from the British Legion, contributed enough money to buy an electric buggy for Mr Short to get around in.
I'm delighted to have this chance to go out again
said Mr Short. When the weather is warmer I'm going to use the buggy to go and visit my brother and friends of mine or pop along to the shops nearby.