FORMER Salvation Army captain Doreen Weeder, 91, proudly wore her uniform again when members of the charity visited her Sheffield care home for a special event.
Doreen, a resident at The Laurels and The Limes Care Home, on Manchester Road, left the Salvation Army in 1971 and hadn’t worn her uniform for many years.
Her navy blue jacket and matching trousers still fit more than 50 years later, however, when Major Angela Noble and other members of the Salvation Army visited the care home.
Doreen even had her old service tambourine, which she brought out and played while the visitors, residents, and care home staff sang a hymn.
The visit from the Salvation Army was to collect donations for its foodbank, including food, toiletries, and other household goods. Residents, staff and visitors at The Laurels and The Limes Care Home had been gathering items for weeks to support the charity’s work.
The visitors also took the opportunity to speak about and remember the sacrifices past and present of service men and women in conflicts around the world.
Doreen read a poem as part of the event, before speaking to the Salvation Army officers about her own career in the charity.
She said: “I used to go to church as a child and, at 11 years old, I saw the Salvation Army band play and I liked it so much that I joined.”
When Doreen was 26 she moved to London to complete a formal officer training programme at William Booth College, from 1961-63. Today, it’s known as the Diploma of Higher Education in Salvation Army Officer Training, a two-year university-accredited programme.
After that she moved to Scotland and worked for the Salvation Army for seven years, when she met Harold Weeder. The pair married and then moved to Sheffield in 1971, when Doreen left The Salvation Army and joined Harold at work in the Post Office.
Doreen said: “I continued attending the Salvation Army services until I wasn’t physically able, so it was such a joy when they visited.
“I just loved what I did for the army and miss going to their service on a Sunday, so it was wonderful to meet the SA members. It brought back happy memories and was an honour to wear my uniform again and give them the donation.”
After the hymns and recitals, the visitors joined those at the care home for a selection of cakes and drinks provided by the kitchen team.
Zoe O’Neill, home manager at The Limes, said: “Thank you to the Salvation Army for coming and joining our residents and staff for a lovely service.
“It was especially moving to see Doreen in her uniform again. She was overjoyed at getting to join in the service and gave a lovely recital.
“All our residents and staff thoroughly enjoyed the visit and the SA were very grateful for the food donations. A massive thank you goes to all those who donated.”
