Ex-soldier replaces stolen charity cash (From Gazette)

Ex-soldier from Clacton replaces stolen charity cash

5:00pm Thursday 27th September 2012 in Clacton, Frinton & Walton

AN ex-soldier dipped into his own pockets to replace charity cash stolen by callous thieves.

More than £400 was stolen from a car on Pier Avenue on September 15 after a fundraising drive for blind veterans.

Harold Wagstaff, of Little Clacton, saw a story on the theft in the Gazette and decided to help.

He said: “I was part of the armed forces for six years, including during the Second World War.

“Fortunately I didn’t get a scratch, but I saw plenty of people get hurt then and it seems like a lot of our soldiers are getting hurt now.

“The fundraisers must have been so upset when the first lot of money was stolen.

“This is something I can do to help them and help the charity.”

Not only did he replace the stolen £400, he also donated another £400 to the fund.

Fundraiser Robert McHenry, who was the victim of the original theft, said he was delighted to receive the extra cash for Blind Veterans UK.