A CHARITY which has raised £180,000 to benefit Polish war veterans at a residential care home in Penrhos has held its last ever carol concert at the site.

The Friends of Penrhos Polish Home, which was formed 18 years ago, was set up to support residents of Penrhos Polish Home.

The old air base at RAF Penrhos was chosen as the site in 1949 to provide accommodation and support to Polish ex-service men and women who remained in the UK following Second World War.

Over time, the wooden barracks were replaced by purpose built flats suitable for elderly people requiring sheltered housing, residential and nursing care.

What had started as a former air base became a Polish village with a church, library, common rooms, shop and allotments.

In 1998 a group called the Friends of Penrhos Police Home was established to help integrate those living in the Polish Home into the community.

One of the founders, 67-year-old Eryl Williams, said she became part of the group to benefit the lives of those who lived in the home.

She said: “My husband worked as a maintenance fitter at the Polish Home for several years so I already knew quite a lot about the home as it was already part of our lives.

“In 1998, a group of 20 of us had a meeting and we thought we’d set up a charity to help raise money for the home and to help those who live there.

“We began by holding fund-raising stands, we held one that year at the Eisteddfod, and we found everyone was really supportive so we thought we’d really give the charity a good push.”

The charity received a huge amount of support locally and over the years the group have been able to purchase a mini bus to arrange trips out for the residents, renovate the hall on the site which now holds several parties and activity events.

Read the full story in the latest north editions of the Cambrian News