After Covid-19 restrictions were first announced last year, WW2 veteran Dennis Woollons volunteered to take part in our telephone buddy scheme to tackle loneliness and isolation.
Throughout the pandemic, the former Army Sergeant helped lift the spirits of isolated and vulnerable people in his community, all whilst shielding himself.
After a short illness at the end of 2021, Dennis sadly passed away at the age of 95.
In the week before Christmas 2020 he joined a virtual get together as part of our Together at Christmas initiative, meeting others from the Armed Forces community who shared their experiences.
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"I’ve been involved with RBL and the Poppy Appeal for almost 25 years," said Dennis, who served as President of the Willerby Kirk Ella & Anlaby Branch.
"When I heard about the buddy scheme I realised that I was perhaps one of the lucky ones able to cope with the situation, but there might be people who would benefit from contact with someone with possibly similar lifetime experiences, so I decided to give it a go."
Dennis was in contact with two D-Day veterans in North Yorkshire, both in their 90s.
"We talk about our service, of course, but also football, rugby league, the weather and we put the world to rights - we all get something out of it.
"They enjoy talking to somebody from their own era with similar experiences to them," he added.
“I call the veterans once a week and we all look forward to it."
Dennis had a distinguished military career, having been seconded to the Indian Army in 1945.
He was based at Burma Command HQ, where he was heavily involved in Operation Nip-Off, the repatriation of Japanese surrendered personnel from Rangoon.
He signed the Official Secrets Act, making him probably the only NCO in the Far East allowed to handle a top-secret guard file.
After two years he contracted hepatitis and was sent home on a hospital ship in November 1947, before returning to his career in accountancy.
Having taken part in our Together at Christmas initiative, he received a special Royal British Legion Christmas pudding, mixed by four generations of the Royal Family at Buckingham Palace last year.
"I’m very excited," said Dennis in 2020.
"I like Christmas pudding, in fact I could probably live on it!"
