Our stories

Rifleman Stephen was 19 when he was wounded by a mortar bomb whilst serving in Basra in 2007. He received brain injuries which left him severely disabled. Stephen’s disability means that he uses a wheelchair and communicates via a tablet.

Stephen now lives at Royal Star & Garter, where he finds the care “Excellent”. He is sociable and enjoys sharing the activities on offer in the Home with his fellow veterans. His courage is striking: he perseveres with regular Physiotherapy at the Home which helps him to maintain his strength and wellbeing and to control pain. Staff work with Stephen and his family to help him live as independently as possible and to lead a full and interesting life.

The Second World War was a few months old when Pat was born in Bournemouth, at the end of 1939. Despite being young, there are parts of the conflict she vividly remembers, such as the glow in the distant night sky which was Southampton Docks being bombed.

Pat Joined the Women’s Royal Army Corp in 1957, aged 17, and served for three years, until marrying Robin in 1960. They met while working at the Proof and Experimental Establishment at the Shoeburyness Army base. Pat was an Experimental Assistant in Gunnery while Robin worked in radar. Pat helped create measurement tables for mainly naval guns.

Pat attended our Day Care service when in first launched. She said “I’ve made some really good friends here and they serve a very nice lunch. There’s so much going on, and you’re never bored. It’s full of life.

Michael was born in Liverpool in 1929, and in his memoirs, recalled German air raids on the city during WWII. He joined the Army in 1952 as a regular serviceman, rather than on National Service, as it paid better. He demobbed in 1982, having attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

During his Army career, Michael was stationed around the world, including Christmas Island, where hydrogen bombs had recently been tested. In his memoirs, Michael recalled: “I was never present at a nuclear explosion. However, I have stood where they had been exploded. The earth at ground zero was ash, blackened and in many places had turned into something like glass and clinker, like the interior of an old burnt-out coke stove.” He later spoke of his relief that no more tests were carried out there, and, in 2024, received the Nuclear Test Medal.

Michael is now living with dementia, and moved to Royal Star & Garter in 2022. Daughter Sarah said: “I know that he is happy at Royal Star & Garter - he says to me that he’s in a good place and that’s very reassuring for me.”

Janet was born near Stratford-upon-Avon, just over four years after WWI ended. In 1942, at the age of 19, she joined the Women’s Royal Naval Service. She served there for the remainder of the war.

While based at HMS Glendower, Janet met Dennis, who also served in the Navy. The couple married in 1944, demobbing the following year. After this, the pair started their life and family together. She and Dennis had a son and daughter together. Janet would go on to join the Women’s Volunteer Service, and would help run cafes at local hospitals in the Solihull area.

Janet moved into Solihull in November 2023. Describing the Home, Janet's daughter Gill said: “I think it’s lovely, I find it very difficult to fault it. The carers are lovely, the staff are lovely, it has a lovely atmosphere. There’s plenty going on, the rooms are nice, the food is good – I'd like to move in there myself!”