Gran does her bit for troops

Apr 11 2008 by Allison Dickinson, Chester Chronicle

A GRANDMOTHER who has been raising cash for good causes for more than 23 years has organised an event to support troops serving overseas.

Margaret McKeegan, 74, of Thackeray Towers, Newtown, arranged the event, a disco, raffle and grand auction, to raise money for the Army Welfare Fund.

Until her retirement in 1989, Margaret was a psychiatric nurse who worked at the Deva Hospital and has organised countless events for many good causes.

Margaret said: “It all started when I was working at the hospital and I found out they only had three oxygen monitors on the baby ward, which had 28 beds.

“I arranged a 60s night at the Plantation, a nightclub on Liverpool Road, and raised over £1,700 – enough to buy five monitors.

“After that I raised money to buy Dynomap blood pressure monitors for the baby unit and a treadmill for the cardiac unit. I haven’t stopped since!”

Her grandson Luke, 21, was the 101st soldier to be killed in Iraq on February 9, 2007. Like his father Nigel before him, Luke was serving with the 1st Battalion Yorkshire Regiment.

His vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb when he was driving back to Basra Palace from a routine patrol. Luke was fatally injured and three others were wounded.

His mum Michelle said: “The whole family has been devastated after Luke’s death and we wanted to do something for the many injured soldiers that we don’t really hear about.

“It has been a horrific time and this event is our way of saying we are so very proud of all our serving soldiers.”

Luke’s brother James is also in the Army. He joined the same regiment in 2006 and completed his combat infantryman's course at Catterick.

He was too young to go to Iraq but has just completed a tour of Afghanistan, serving in Kabul and Helmand province. He was sent home with a burst appendix for five weeks before returning to finish his tour.

Margaret, who has 17 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, has managed to attract some special prizes for the grand auction.

Among the lots donated are 12 bottles of Taittinger champagne from the Duke of Westminster and signed football memorabilia from Manchester United. Frank Marnell of the Watergate Inn will be volunteering his skills as auctioneer.

The event is at 7.30pm at St Werburgh's Catholic Club, Brook Street, Chester on Friday, April 18.

Tickets are priced at £5 each, and entry to the event is by ticket only. To buy tickets, make a donation or to offer auction and raffle prizes contact Michelle or Nigel on 01244 319904 or e-mail simpson868@btinternet.com Every penny raised is going to the Army Welfare Fund.