NEWS

Working For Charity
Parcels 4 Troops

                    

Having raised a total of £8225 for local charities since December 2006, local Solicitors and Estate Agents, Georgesons, brought their scheme, whereby the firm provided Wills free of charge to clients, on condition  they made a donation to charity, to an end, for the time being, in April. However after the final cheque for £835 was handed over to the Town and County Hospital's Newton Wing Palliative Care Fund, donations were still being received from clients for work in progress. That cash, amounting to £615.13 has now been used to provide support for soldiers from the 2nd Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland who are at present deployed to Helmand Province in Afghanistan.  

Our photo shows, the firm's principal, Bruce de Wert (right), presenting the cheque to Murdo Sutherland, 10 Durness Street, Thurso, whilst looking on are, from left, Mr Sutherland's wife Margaret, and Georgeson's staff, Jenny Lawless, Eileen Perry, Susan Brown, Karen Robertson, Nicola Milne, Anne Dunnett, work experience student Hanna Lalmahamode and Diane Bain.

The parcels 4 Troops scheme is run by Mr and Mrs Sutherland's son Alasdair and some of his fellow prison officers at HMP Edinburgh, who send parcels to the troops, containing basic toiletries and food stuffs, such as noodles, boiled sweets, pasta, chewy bars, chewing gum etc.  

Mr and Mrs Sutherland explained their son, who served in the army before becoming a prison officer twenty years ago, and his colleagues decided to support  the troops who had been stationed at Glencourse barracks in Penicuik prior to their eight month deployment to Afghanistan, in February. Although principally supporting troops from the 2nd Battalion, they will send items to any local soldiers, whose families contact them through their website, www.freewebs.com/parcels4troops/index.htm.  

Murdo and Margaret Sutherland, who before their retiral to Thurso ran the weavers and craftshop at Tongue, also send parcels through the scheme. One of their parcels was received by a soldier from Bettyhill and another by a soldier from Thurso. Margaret said, "We were delighted. It makes it all worth while knowing that it brings comfort to our boys and girls. We have received numerous letters, of thanks, from the soldiers, and send them more parcels. Anyone wishing to help with money or goodies can contact us on 01847 895966, or visit the website."