MORE than a dozen commemorative Tommy figures were installed in show home gardens across Cornwall and the South West last week ahead of VE Day on Saturday, May 8 — including one in Launceston.

The housebuilding company is the first corporate patron of the new Tommy Club, a fundraising initiative launched by the Royal British Legion Industries charity (RBLI) to raise money to support armed forces veterans.

Assistant site manager and former Army Medic Joshua Ceesay, who is managing the construction at Chapel Gate, Launceston, says it’s a great honour to install the figure in the show home garden and in dozens of others across the South West.

Joshua served for nearly five years in the 16 medical regiment. He began working for Barratt Homes in October 2019 under the company’s Armed Forces Transition Programme.

Barratt Homes has donated £100,000 to the Tommy Club and has purchased 300 full size figures to show their support for the charity. The Tommy Club is a membership organisation with all money raised going to help veterans of all ages to gain independence and overcome challenges including mental and physical disability.

Installing the Tommy figure in the show home garden at Chapel Gate Joshua commented: “It’s a real honour to be able to put the Tommy figure in pride of place in our show home garden at Chapel Gate and to see them going into our developments across Cornwall and the South West. I’ve been very fortunate to start a new career with Barratt Developments after leaving the army two years ago, but it’s not always an easy transition for everyone. The RBLI does fantastic work improving the lives of people who have given so much and we’re proud to be able to support their work.”

 Nicki Reid, sales director at Barratt David Wilson Homes in Cornwall, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be the first corporate sponsor of the Tommy Club. We have been really moved and impressed by the amazing work the RBLI does supporting ex-services personnel and their families. ”