Angela’s Story

“Angela is doing really well. She has settled into her new home and surroundings and is making lots of new friends and reconnecting with previous friends. It’s great to see her flourish and enjoying life.”

Angela joined the Women’s Royal Army Corps at the age of 17 and undertook six weeks basic training in Guildford before moving to Catterick, North Yorkshire for her communications operator training.

She knew she wanted to be in the Army; loved the uniform and everything attracted her to it even though none of her parents served. She served for two years in Bicester and Hereford before deciding to leave.

She enjoyed her career in the Army and said: “I left then as felt it was the right time to do something else. I thoroughly enjoyed my Army life. I did at times wish I had extended to six years like my younger sister who served in the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps.”

Angela had a variety of jobs before deciding to go to Egypt for a few months. She says, “I had a fascination to visit but six months turned into 22 years living in Cairo. I had a number of jobs including working as an editor for a newspaper, teaching adult literacy and numeracy and teaching English to students.”

In 2020, just before the Covid lockdown, Angela returned to UK to help her brother to move home. The visit was only intended to be for six weeks but, as the country went into lockdown and the government imposed travel restrictions, she could not return to her home and job in Cairo.

She said, “I had no belongings with me and no home. My sister looked for accommodation and I was offered a place at Hollyacre House in Durham. It was wonderful – life changing. I had a comfortable place to live.”

The Army Benevolent Fund assisted me with £1,000 towards the cost of counselling and well-being needs and she purchased a computer which she said was “A lifesaver during a very vulnerable period of my life.”

The flat provided her with independent living and in peaceful surroundings, which she said was a pleasure after the bustling noisy city of Cairo.

Residents joined in with activities including cooking courses which prepared them for independent living. However, in February 2022, SHAID – the charity which owned Hollyacre House, ceased operations and was placed into administration providing even more uncertainty for staff and residents until Launchpad stepped in and purchased the house, securing the future of eight veterans and saving four jobs.

Angela said: “When Launchpad took over the running of Hollyacre House, it was great because they instantly made it more homely. They organised activities for the residents to join in with such as quiz and film nights and they also purchased new furniture and put pictures up on the walls which made the house feel warm and welcoming.”

In June 2023, Angela, who is now retired, moved out of Hollyacre House to live independently and is now settled in her bungalow in Newton Aycliffe.

As part of the move-on support Launchpad provides to former residents, our independent living co-ordinator, Mary keeps in contact with Angela to check on her wellbeing and provide any extended support she may need.

Mary said: “Angela is doing really well. She has settled into her new home and surroundings and is making lots of new friends and reconnecting with previous friends. It’s great to see her flourish and enjoying life.”