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Spring Case Study - Lella Eden

This year sees The Royal Air Force celebrate 90 years of service, from protecting the skies over the UK to the various theatres around the world. Since 1918, millions have served in the RAF, each with a story to tell, this is Lella Eden’s story.

We will be sending our our quarterly newsletter featuring Lella this May, please read on for more information.

Celebrating her 95th birthday later this year, Lella, has been a member of the RAF Association (RAFA) since its beginning in 1943.

Lella’s early work experience in a photographic shop and the photo trade stood her in good stead when she joined the RAF during WWII. After her initial training in Blackpool, she trained for and joined the photographic section. Removing and fitting cameras onto the reconnaissance Spitfires and processing the valuable strips of film became vital elements of Lella’s job. The before and after pictures that the recon aircraft took played an important part in the assessment of damage to enemy installations, following the bombing raids.

Now, Lella suffers severe mobility problems following a nasty fall. At home she is supported by her family, especially her daughter with whom she now lives.

The RAF Association supports Lella with visits and care from the local Welfare Officer in the York area. She is also a regular visitor to Rothbury House (above) where she enjoys much needed respite breaks. Respite care at Rothbury House enables Lella to recharge her batteries, giving a much needed break to both her and her carers. It also gives her the chance to go out on outings and catch up with old friends.

How You Can Help People Like Ella

It is a sad fact that not everyone can afford to pay to take a much needed break so your: –

Perhaps you may consider a donation of £90, a £1 for every year of the RAF, to help continue helping and supporting RAF personnel serving, ex serving and their dependants, in their time of need.

Please show us that the ethos and comradeship remains as strong today as it was in 1918 and help us continue to help people like Lella.

The RAF Association helps Lella with support and visits from her local branch honorary welfare officer and from the local area welfare office based in York. Lella has severe mobility problems following a nasty fall. The Association also supports her with respite care at Rothbury House where a welfare break ensures that Lella and her family get an opportunity to rest and recharge their batteries, safe in the knowledge that her care and support will be second to none.

When Lella returns to Rothbury House, Tony Collins, the Rothbury House Manager, and his team will look after her and ensure that she will want for nothing during her stay.

Specialist equipment and rooms ensure that even those with severe difficulties can take a respite break at a RAFA care home. A donation from you will help to ensure that we continue to keep our facilities up to date and relevant to the special needs of those who require respite care. Outings and excursions are an important part of any respite break. It gives an ideal opportunity for someone on a break to take part in supervised activities or visit some where new that they may not have been able to do ordinarily at home.

A welfare break can make a huge difference to someone’s life, helping them through difficult times, a bereavement or recovering from illness. Your financial support ensures that the special brand of care, support, welfare and comradeship that RAFA offers can continue to help those who have supported their country

For more information please click on the following links:

• Welfare Support
  
• Welfare Brochure
  
• Donation to the Association
• Enquiries relating to Lella

Photographs courtesy of the Imperial War Museum, London

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