About Us > How we have helped so far > John Elliott
John shared, “My very first memory as a child was standing on a railway platform with my mother and waving goodbye to my father who had been called up for the Navy before World War II was declared. We only saw him once more before he was blown up on a ship in the North Sea in 1940, and then rescued by the Germans to be their Prisoner of War until 1945.”
John Elliott, pictured in his room at Care for Veterans
John’s wartime memories are still vivid today. He recalled attending Fishersgate Infants School and witnessing two German bombers drop bombs upon a nearby housing estate. He also shared memories of “a German Fighter machine-gunning a train behind our house”, of seeing the landing crafts all positioned from Shoreham Harbour to Hove Lagoon and of soldiers billeted along the seafront. John’s father returned three days before VE Day, having marched across Germany before being released to the allies.
After two years of working diligently as a Police Cadet at Shoreham Police Station from the age of 16, it was a natural step for John to complete his National Service in the Army’s Royal Military Police in Egypt and Cyprus, from 1951 to 1953.
On his time serving, John said, “I went in a boy, and came out a man – as I think we all did.”
For his two years of National Service, John was tasked with helping the station to investigate vehicle accidents with the civilian population and the services. With a revolver kept on his person, John has fond memories of travelling through Cyprus on a motorbike that he used to take him from one investigation to the next.
John is pictured on the right in his uniform during his National Service in Cyprus
Reflecting on his two years with the Armed Forces, John noted how it was an interesting time historically to work in Cyprus. John shared, “Turkish and Cypriot police worked really well together – which was an interesting moment in time because it all changed not long after that.” John was referring to the Greek-Cypriot revolt of 1955 which involved Greek-Cypriots and Colonel George Grivas seeking a union between Cyprus and Greece.
Post-service, life took John into new and exciting directions. He signed a three-year contract to work as an inspector in the Kenyan Police Force, to aid efforts against the Mau Mau rebellion. From there, he met his wife Muriel, and went on to have two children, Peta and Johnathan. Over the course of 47 years living in Africa, John pursued a successful career in prison security and security companies, and went on to become a thriving business owner. In 2001, John and his family moved to the UK. When Muriel passed away in 2016, John and his daughter Peta moved to Sussex to be closer to John’s son Johnathan.
2024 was a difficult year for John. Sadly, John’s daughter Peta passed away in April, and later that year in October, John collapsed in his home in Storrington. John’s son and family were told to prepare for the worst. Upon arrival at Chichester Hospital, a diagnosis of sepsis meant it was unlikely that John would pull through. Fortunately, John survived, although he did suffer the loss of his sight in one eye, and found his mobility had been greatly impacted.
Due to new day-to-day care needs as well as a requirement to follow a rehabilitation programme, John was suddenly in need of an appropriate care home solution.
John’s son Johnathan shared that they’d visited three homes before Gifford House, and that “Care for Veterans was by far the best”. John said, “it’s been wonderful – the friendliness and efficiency. I’m glad I came here and not somewhere else, that’s for sure!”
In John’s spare time, he enjoys using the Wellbeing Hub to work through puzzles and has ambitions to create a discussion and writing group for other residents.
Twice a week John attends physiotherapy sessions and uses a variety of equipment as part of his programme of exercises. John said excitedly, “I enjoy progressing [in physiotherapy], the better I get, it opens up possibilities for my eventual return home.” John continued, “When I came here, I couldn’t walk – and now I can do it, I’m doing it! I’ve been very determined.”
John Elliott in physiotherapy, with support from the Lead Physiotherapist Belle
Lead Physiotherapist Belle commented, “Every exercise that I prescribe to John he completes above and beyond the recommendations with great discipline and perseverance. As a result of this, John has progressed from two months of not walking and struggling to stand up with heavy assistance from two people, to now minimal assistance from one person. When John stood for the first time in the bars, without prompting he took both hands off the bars and stood without any assistance. In all my years working as a physiotherapist, I don’t think I’ve ever seen anybody do that before. He is now currently mobilising the length of our gym using a very supportive frame and we are hopeful that he will continue to exceed our expectations. He plans on one day returning to live close to his son and we are currently working towards supporting him to achieve this.”
The comprehensive and tailored services at Care for Veterans are available thanks to the generosity of our supporters. If you would like to support disabled veterans like John, click here.
Responsive site designed and developed by
Click to go Madison Web Solutions' website
