Lending a helping hand for our heroes in warzones

A fundraising night in the social club at the town's police station raised 1,150 for Help for Heroes.

The charity is dedicated to assisting forces personnel who need medical treatment when they return from Afghanistan or Iraq.

Sussex co-ordinator Sarah Lydiard-Wilson said: "This is the biggest donation I've known from one event and one of the largest that I've collected.

"It just shows the interest there is in Help for Heroes and I think the organiser of the night, DC 'Moss' Chandler, has been fantastic."

A big feature of the night was the sale of special Help for Heroes wristbands for 5 voluntary donations.

A disco, a 14-year-old female singer and a three-piece musical group provided entertainment for about 100 guests.

A raffle with plenty of prizes donated by businesses around Bognor and an auction for a year-long family day pass to Butlins helped to boost the final total.

DC Chandler said it had been the first charity night at the social club for many years.

"I was absolutely over the moon with the amount collected. It was much more than I expected. It's showing the police are involved in the community rather than putting the barriers up," he explained.

"I thought it important to support our service men and women. It is something dear to many hearts."

DC Chandler spent nine years in the Royal Navy, which included serving in the Falkland Islands war, before he joined Sussex Police just over 22 years ago.

His son is a lieutenant in the navy and his late father was a Royal Marine. His donation will add to the 17m which the charity has raised in just 17 months.

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