TWO VETERANS who were going to be spending Christmas alone have now joined a bubble so they can enjoy the day together.

Ian Thomas, 73, and Dougie Shelley, 95, were both going to be by themselves on Christmas Day when it was suggested they form a support bubble together so they wouldn’t have to spend the day alone.

Chel Turner-Everett, divisional secretary of SSAFA Southend told the Echo: “Ian mentioned that he was going to be on his own at Christmas so I spoke to Dougie, who I already knew was going to be on his own at Christmas, and I said to them “why don’t you spend the day together and I’ll organise the lunch for you” – so that’s what I’ve done.”

Ian served as a captain in the Army while Dougie sailed in the arctic convoys in the Royal Navy in World War 2.

Over the last five years, Ian and Dougie have struck up a friendship and will now spend Christmas Day together at Dougie’s house in Southend.

Chel added: “They feel a lot better. It’s not a day that you really want to be on your own. They’ve known each other for about four to five years so they’re becoming friends.

“Ian looks after Dougie during the lockdown. He will go out and do the shopping for him and if he needs anything Ian will make sure Dougie has got it.

“Ian’s family isn’t local. He’s got a daughter in New Zealand, a son in Oxford and another son in Singapore so he hasn’t got much family over here.

“Dougie unfortunately has outlived his family.”

Chel has organised for a Christmas dinner to be delivered to Dougie’s home from Glenwood Café in Westcliff.

She said: “We’re going to make sure they’ve got a drink each for the day so they can celebrate Christmas properly and make sure they’ve got Christmas crackers and everything.

“It seemed to me a very simple solution for two isolated people to put them together.

“We look after our veterans all through their lives.

“That’s what Christmas is all about, spending it with people you care about.”