A GALLERY owner is putting on a concert to help soldiers who have been injured while fighting abroad.

Ian Hughes, who owns the village store and the Back o’ the Shop Gallery in Terrington, is putting on a concert to raise money for Help for Heroes, a charity which provides rehabilitation and facilities for soldiers who have been injured in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Ian has family in the military and a nephew who has done three tours of duty in the Helmand province, so he says Help for Heroes has always been a charity he can relate to.

However, the idea of a concert was sparked when he watched as injured soldier Phil Packer, famously completed the London Marathon in 13 days.

He said: “I thought if he can do that, then I can raise a few bob to help injured soldiers.

“They are not receiving the help they need.

“Although I think this is improving because the work of Help for Heroes has shocked the Government into doing a better job of providing care.”

The Help for Heroes charity was first started when people complained that soldiers without limbs, who were in rehabilitation at the government’s Headley Court facility, near Epsom, were being forced to use the local swimming pool.

An appeal was set up to provide swimming pool facilities at Headley Court. Now the charity not only provides facilities for injured soldiers, they also offer financial support to their families.

The concert will be held at Terrington Village Hall on Saturday October 3 at 7.30pm.

The Band of the Yorkshire Volunteers, dressed in full regalia, and described by Ian Hughes as ‘something very special’, will be playing.

In the interval, guest speaker Reggie Perrin, a retired warrant officer, from York, will be giving a humorous talk about life on the frontline.

Ian is still organising the finer details of the event, and he is asking local people to donate prizes so he can hold a raffle.

He said: “I want to charge £5 for the raffle tickets, so we are looking for some really fantastic raffle prizes.

“So far we have a limo ride and a night at a casino for six people.

“Something like a ride in a tank, or a hot air balloon ride over Ryedale, would be absolutely spot-on, and if anyone could help I would be very grateful.”

Tickets for the concert cost £7.50, and are available from Terrington Village Stores on 01653 648488.