A GROUP of real ale lovers in Oswestry have helped raise money for The Veterans' Centre at Gobowen's Orthopaedic Centre.

The centre is aiming to raise £1.5 million to help fund the UK’s first Veterans’ Centre to provide individualised patient care for veterans and serving military personnel.

The trail was organised by Brian Willis, and he admitted it was tough going but well worth trying to raise funds.

"It was a challenging time organising this mostly on my own with nine venues four of which arranged music to provide entertainment for their customers," he said.

"During the last few weeks I received help from Jenny and Norman Harris-White aka The Oddbods, and Simon Harmony Perry who between them arranged the music at the Black Gate.

"So a big thanks to them as I was beginning to run out of energy and time to bring it all together.

"Also a big thank you to Gary Brennan from the Griffin who laid the foundations of how it would work, Mick from The Fox who gave huge support.

"And not forgetting all the bar staff who pulled all the pints and the bucket collectors without who we wouldn't have raised so much for the first attempt to organise an Ale Trail around some of the Oswestry Town Pubs."

The aim of the Veterans Orthopaedic Centre Appeal is to further expand on the Veterans Service, currently provided at the hospital, by providing a dedicated environment specifically designed for their care.

The current NHS-run service is led by Lieutenant Colonel Carl Meyer, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, as well as a serving officer in the British Army, and mostly treats arthritic lower limb problems, especially those requiring hip and knee replacements.

Lt Col Meyer first set up exclusive veterans clinics at the hospital in 2014, and this project will allow him to fulfil and ambition of operating out of a dedicated Centre

For more, head to www.rjah.nhs.uk/Our-Services/Orthopaedic-Surgery/veterans.aspx, call 01691 404588 or email rjah.fundraising@nhs.net