82-year-old from Garstang turns his hand to making Christmas cards - and it gives him 'new lease of life' after losing his wife

David, 82, who lives in Garstang, was devastated when his wife of 36 years, Janice, died nine months ago. For many years they had both enjoyed a love of crafts and card making but after Janice passed away David didn’t feel able to continue with the hobby.

But then Robbie Aston, who works for Westmorland Homecare at its Poulton, Fylde and Wyre branch, asked him if he would consider making the cards the company will send out to all its clients in the area this Christmas.

“I was delighted to be asked,” said David. “I had been locked in a shell for nine months but this was an awakening for me. I went into my little craft room and thought can I do this? Then I thought ‘yes you can’.

“Since I have been busy making cards for Westmorland Homecare I have been so much happier and it has given me a new lease of life. For the first time in nine months at the weekend, I went to the craft shop In Fleetwood to buy some bits and pieces.”

Jade Street, Care Coordinator – Recruitment and Community Engagement with Westmorland Homecare, said: “We love getting our clients involved as much as we can and we knew he would be the perfect man for the job. The cards are absolutely beautiful and unique.”

David, who grew up in North London and Bournemouth, was called up for National Service in the late 1950s and decided to stay on. He served in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), which was attached to the Army Air Corps and looked after Sioux and Scout helicopters, and fixed wing craft such as the Beaver and Auster.

After leaving REME in 1968, he became a lorry driver in Scotland. “Janice and I visited Blackpool for a weekend, liked it and never left!” said David.

“We rented a house in the area. Later we lived at Great Eccleston and retired before we moved to Garstang 22 years ago.”

Jade said that Westmorland Homecare planned to treat David to a meal at his favourite steakhouse as a thank you for making the cards.