War veteran backs Air Ambulance charity

A VETERAN paratrooper who served in the Second World War has been supporting the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance charity.

Jack Frapple celebrated his 90th birthday on January 1, 2014, but rather than opening gifts from friends and family his thoughts were on raising money for a local South West charity.

He asked family and friends to donate the money they would have spent to a collection for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. A total of £300 was raised thanks to his kind gesture.

Jack, who has lived at Yarlington Housing Group’s Parsonage Close Retirement Living Scheme in Somerton for 14 years, said: “I think the charity does a marvellous job and I wanted to support their fantastic work.

“I often see the helicopter in the area, once it landed in the fields opposite my bungalow; it’s nice to know I can do something to help.”

PHOTO - TOP: Jack Frapple, second left, presents his cheque to the Air Ambulance's Karen Cook, far right. Also pictured are Jack's children, from left, Merilyn Edwards, Graham Frapple and Gloria Birch.

PHOTO - RIGHT: Jack Frapple and Air Ambulance volunteer Karen Cook.

Nearly 70 years ago Jack was experiencing aviation in a very different way when he was a paratrooper with the Army during the Second World War.

He fought in the ill-fated Battle of Arnhem in Holland in September 1944, was captured by the Germans and held as a prisoner or war. On returning to England he lived in Cadbury, Somerset, where he worked for Cow & Gate.

He spent some time in Wiltshire, where he worked in the forestry team for the National Trust, before returning to Somerset and setting up home with his wife and three children in Somerton.

During the 26 years up to retirement Jack worked as a postman in Yeovil and then Somerton.

His popularity was apparent at his birthday party as over 80 people joined him, to celebrate at a local hotel.

Karen Cook, a volunteer with the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance, said: “It is very generous of Jack not to think of himself on such a special occasion.”

The Battle of Arnhem was later re-created in the film A Bridge Too Far.

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