Gifts to boost services' morale

The gift box scheme gave Pte Carrington an excuse to drop in on former nurse Margaret Ellis, who was dubbed Sister Spitfire during WWII

Troops serving in Afghanistan are receiving morale-boosting gift boxes, inspired by a serving soldier and a World War II nurse.

The manager of the Pendine Park care home in Wrexham came up with the idea after hearing about the plight of some soldiers from her daughter's fiance.

Pte Neil Carrington is distributing the gift boxes while in Afghanistan.

The residential centre is also home to WWII nurse Margaret Ellis, who was known as Sister Spitfire.

There are so many of these soldiers out there that are on the front line and they don't get anything Ann Chapman, Pendine Park care home, pictured top left

"I hope the boxes that we are sending from Pendine Park are going to help make their time there just a little bit easier," said the 93-year-old, who served as a nurse in northern France during the war.

It was there that German prisoners of war dubbed her Sister Spitfire, because of her forthright attitude and spirit. Her memories, and the work of Pte Carrington led to the care home's manager Ann Chapman starting the collections for troops.

The soldier is engaged to Mrs Chapman's daughter Sarah Jones, who was already sending out regular parcels to her fiance.

"Sarah was sending boxes to Neil every day with little goodies you know, crisps, shower gel, toothpaste, packs of cards, travel games - just anything that she thought he might like," said Mrs Chapman.

"But there are so many of these soldiers out there that are on the front line and they don't get anything and according to Neil they look devastated.

Click here to read Margaret Ellis's wartime memories

"As soon as I heard that I thought we can do something at Pendine Park to help these lads.

"For those who don't get family support, we can be their family. It's just about ordinary people supporting these lads who are so brave and some won't return home."

A builder by trade, Pts Carrington is a member of the Territorial Army, serving with 3rd Battalion, Royal Welsh.

The 40-year-old has just rejoined his colleagues for his second half of a tour of duty in Helmand Province operations, which is where he will be distributing the gift boxes.

"It's a pretty hectic but we're doing a good job and living amongst the locals and stuff like that so they're quite chuffed with us being there and what we're doing for them," he said.

'Morale boosting'

"I think we're pushing the Taliban back and getting there slowly. We're making a difference to the country.

"What the people at Pendine Park are doing is lovely. The boxes are a big morale boost, because you're obviously living off rations every day."

Mrs Chapman said collections for gift boxes were continuing, with two new collection points for those who want to donate, at the Wheatsheaf pub in Gwersyllt and Mecca Bingo in Wrexham.

"I didn't realise that these boxes meant so much to these lads. And when you hear that some of these lads don't get anything then that's just awful. We will support them, definitely," she added.