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07 May 20. Coronavirus: Nine Chelsea Pensioners die with Covid-19, hospital says. Nine Chelsea Pensioners have died after contracting coronavirus, the Royal Hospital Chelsea has confirmed. The home for military veterans, which has been in existence for more than 300 years, said a further 58 residents had so far recovered after testing positive or showing symptoms. Some 290 army veterans live at the Royal Hospital, famous for its red tunic uniform. The deaths were announced a day before the 75th anniversary of VE Day.
Of the hospital’s residents, 47 served in World War Two, while others were deployed in Korea, the Falkland Islands, Cyprus and Northern Ireland.
Among those who died was 75-year-old Fred Boomer-Hawkins.
He moved to the Royal London Chelsea Hospital in 2017 and was “extremely proud” to wear the retirement home’s famous uniform, his son Terry Hawkins, 49, said.
“He was a very popular man, loving, generous, honourable and loyal,” Mr Hawkins told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
“He was everything you could want from a dad.
“We can only have ten people at the funeral but know more than 300 would want to be there if they could. The outpouring of love for him since his death was announced has been overwhelming.”
‘I fear the worst’
Mr Boomer-Hawkins, a father-of-three, was originally from Tottenham and joined the army aged 17.
A keen boxer, he won tournaments including the Regimental Boxing Finals, and later went on to coach.
His first posting in the army was as a Royal Green Jacket in Colchester, where he met first wife, Jean.
He was later stationed in Malaysia, Germany and Tidworth, completed two tours of Northern Ireland, was a UN peacekeeper in Cyprus and spent two years in Berlin.
He first became ill in the last week of March.
As his breathing worsened and he was moved to hospital in the days before his death, he sent his son a text reading: “Prepare yourself, I fear the worst now.”
Mr Hawkins added: “We were able to go in on that final day and the doctors told us he only had between two and eight hours left. We never thought it would come to that, it was heartbreaking.
“It just shows this virus can take anyone.” (Source: BBC)
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ExFor+ CIC is a relatively new organisation but has been established with the objective of becoming a National overarching organisation within the Veterans Support Sector. Our aim is to bring about, positive Social and Economic change for the country as well as a significant
transformation of how Service leavers, Veterans, their families and communities are supported. We will do this through effective collaboration, communication and management of a number of services and departments, ranging from engaging with Government, The Third sector and also the supporters of, those who’ve served and often sacrificed so much for their country. We are currently supporting a number of service leavers and veterans with a range of issues ranging from housing, unemployment, benefits, personal development, education, and are constantly looking for employers who see the positives in recruiting and supporting individuals in to work to create longterm and sustainable futures.
www.InvestorsInVeterans.com
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