Tea and cake as veterans' trust marks 105th anniversary

A national veterans charity which was founded in Kent at the end of the 1914-18 war has celebrated its 105th anniversary with a tea party.

The Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI), based in Aylesford, was founded to support soldiers returning from World War One.

Kay Carey, 104, has lived at the RBLI village for most of her life after serving as an RAF nurse during World War Two.

Ms Carey, who treated soldiers with severe burns at a hospital in East Grinstead, West Sussex, attended the Tommy Tea Party on Tuesday.

“People who were burnt were particularly frightening. But you did it automatically,” she said. “It was there to be done and you got on with it.”

A band of pipers and drummers performed in uniform as part of the anniversary event which was open to the public.

The RBLI was started in 1919 as a tuberculosis hospital for returning soldiers.

Geoff Streetley, director of the charity, said: “Fortunately, most of those got well and then wanted to be active.

"So they started to build some of their own hospital wards, and then they build a wooden toy factory.

“And even today, we still make wooden toys in this factory.”

Tirthraj Thapa, who was badly wounded after standing on an explosive in Afghanistan while serving with the First Royal Gurkha Regiment, is one of more than 100 veterans working at the Aylesford site.

“RBLI gave me another opportunity, and a second life,” he said.

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