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| Visiting Heroes Enjoy Pie and a Pint - Thursday, May 14th 2009. |
More than 20 injured servicemen and their carers will enjoy a pub lunch and pint of Liberation Ale next week (Monday 18th) as part of a week-long holiday to the Island. The visit has been organised by the newly-formed local charity Holidays for Heroes Jersey and the Liberation Group, which donated £540 to the charity from sales of the ale over the Liberation Weekend. The ten pence a pint initiative was so successful that pubs in both Jersey and Guernsey sold out. However stocks in both Islands will be replenished by tomorrow (Friday 15th).
Mark Crowther is the Chief Executive Officer of The Liberation Group, which owns Jersey Brewery, which produced the new cask ale. He says: "The public's reaction to the beer was overwhelming and took us a little bit by surprise due to the fact we ran out. Our team at the brewery have been working very hard to make sure all pubs are restocked by tomorrow and we hope Islanders continue to enjoy their Liberation pint. We are delighted to have also been able to raise money for such a worthy cause and hope the visiting heroes enjoy holiday in Jersey."
During the Liberation Weekend (8th-10th) May 5400 pints of Liberation Ale was sold in Jersey and 936 pints were served in Guernsey.
Founder of Holiday for Heroes Jersey Dawn Woodhouse says: "We are delighted that sales of the ales went so well and thank the Liberation Group for their support. As well as the donation, the initiative also helped to inform local people about the real reason the charity was set up. The heroes are looking forward to sampling the beer and we're very grateful The Five Oaks pub has agreed to lay on special lunch."
Among the servicemen visiting the Island are Don Planner and his wife Sharon from Poole and 52-year-old Gary Hales and his wife Angela from Wales.
Don Planner, of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), was injured when a fuel tank exploded in front of his face whilst on active duty in Berlin. The force of the blast broke his neck, caused a brain haemorrhage and left him blind for life. His injuries were so severe his whole face had to be rebuilt over the course of many years with numerous operations. Don initially needed 164 stitches in his face and spent four and a half months in hospital in Germany.
Don began his rehabilitation back in the UK at the famous St Dunstan's which provides lifelong help and support to blind ex-Service men and women.
Having worked and then retired Don took up running marathons and also became the first blind person ever to have climbed Mont Blanc. Over the years his sporting challenges have helped raise nearly £50,000 for good causes and resulted in him running 17 marathons.
Former Falklands veteran Gary Hales is visiting Jersey with his wife, who also served as an army nurse during the same war. Gary had spent six years in the military and had completed three tours of duty in Northern Ireland before being posted to the Falklands. He returned home suffering physical and psychological injuries which have scarred him for life.
Gary says: "Life is never the same once you have been to war. The experience devastated my life and has left me very cynical about the need for war".
Gary has since become a practising Buddhist and teaches Buddhism and meditation in prisons where he meets a lot of ex-servicemen. In recent months Gary has had to look after his father following his mother's move to a retirement home. His holiday to Jersey with his wife is his first proper break away in three years and comes shortly after their 25th wedding anniversary.
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