Care home veteran honoured seven years after his death

An Army veteran who lived at a Royal Star & Garter care home has been honoured by the charity, seven years after his death.

The care home in Surbiton has renamed its ground floor after former soldier, Captain Gary Anglin.

Capt Anglin, who lived in Hanworth, Hounslow, with his wife Marjorie, enjoyed a long career in the Army. He joined the 1st Battalion The Queen’s Regiment in 1972, aged 18, and served for 42 years. He completed eight tours of Northern Ireland, and also served in Germany, Gibraltar and Cyprus. He had attained the rank of Captain by the time he retired in 2014.

Shortly after, Captain Anglin was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour, before coming to Royal Star & Garter - Surbiton, where he lived until his death in October 2015, aged 61.

His daughter Marsha said: “It is an honour to know dad’s legacy will live on through the renaming of the floor, and it’s a beautiful tribute.

"Dad felt welcomed from the moment he entered the home, and I know he appreciated the love and support he received from every member of staff. As well as dad, we all felt like part of the Royal Star & Garter family, and we are eternally grateful for all that they did for my dad and for us.”

Capt Anglin was born in Jamaica and moved to England as a child with his mother. The decision by the charity to honour his memory and celebrate his life was announced during Black History Month, which runs throughout October.

Helena Maher, home manager at Surbiton, said: “I’m delighted we are able to celebrate Gary at Surbiton. Gary was a much-loved resident here and many staff still fondly remember him.”

The Home’s second floor has been renamed after Bevis Shergold, a resident at the charity’s former Richmond Home, who was an outstanding shot putter and discus and javelin thrower, who represented Great Britain in the 1948 Olympics.

Ms Shergold’s career started when she competed at the 1938 European Championships in Paris, finishing fifth in the shot, and eighth in the discus. But her career was cut short during World War II when she joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) in 1940.

She was one of the first women sent abroad during the War to act as an interpreter in the East.

Ms Maher said: “Bevis was a remarkable woman who served her country during the war and in sport. It is an honour to have their names linked to our home in this way.”

Royal Star & Garter chief executive, Andy Cole, added: “The home in Richmond will always be a special part of the history of Royal Star & Garter.

"These new floor names maintain this connection while also honouring the residents who have lived at our Surbiton home.”

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