FALKLANDS hero, Simon Weston arrived at the newly-built Reeve Court Village last week and delivered a spirited pep talk to 60 recruits who will be supporting more than 300 residents when they move into the £20.3m retirement scheme at the beginning of October.

Simon was invited by The ExtraCare Charitable Trust to encourage and inspire the new team which includes care and support workers, activity leaders, administrators and housekeeping staff.

He told a tale of triumph in the face of adversity describing how he suffered 80 per cent burns after his supply ship, Sir Galahad, was attacked during the 1982 Falklands conflict. Staff heard how the 20-year-old Welsh Guard lost five years of his life to pain, guilt and fear as he endured extensive skin grafting which required more than 70 operations.

Simon described how he overcame his injuries to set up a charity for disadvantaged young people, Weston Spirit, and went on to marry and start a family - he now has three children.

He threw himself into a series of adventurous fund-raising activities including rally driving, parachuting, marathon running and even a hair-raising bobsleigh trip down the famous Cresta run.

CHALLENGES

During an extensive question-and-answer session, he described his friend, Charlie, who at 75, travelled from Lands End to John O'Groats in a hand-powered wheelchair, raising millions for charity. He said older people should have every opportunity to enjoy their lives:

"What you have to do as a team is help your residents meet the challenges they want to go for. If you can switch your residents on to something like painting or flying then give them the chance to have a go, it's not for us to say they can or can't do something".

Learning on his military background, Simon also talked about teamwork. "My training instructor always said that you're only as fast as your slowest person and you're only as strong as your weakest link.

"The best way forward is by making sure everyone is up to the same speed and you're all as strong as each other. Remember, you've actually got the happiness of those who will live in the village in your hands. You, as a team, have to deliver the vision, the dream that the people moving in have looked forward to".

After the talk, village manager Lesley Blowers described Simon's visit as inspirational. "He told us about the value of teamwork and support which in his case had proved invaluable, and he also stressed the value of looking forward to new challenges, and we all face plenty of those.

"I'm sure his visit and his message will help us during the coming weeks when we are having to work closely to achieve a smooth and satisfactory move into the village".