AN elderly RAF veteran has pledged to step up fundraising for an armed forces charity after making a series of generous donations in a poignant tribute to his late wife.

Jim Litchfield from Romsey and his wife Carine were passionate supporters for Help the Heroes after he served for nearly three decades in the armed forces.

After her death he generously donated £1,000 to the charity when loved ones attending her funeral were urged to give to the charity in lieu of flowers.

Part of this amount was raised at their earlier diamond wedding anniversary celebrations where the couple had asked people to make donations rather than buy them presents.

Now Jim has promised to continue supporting the charity in her memory after setting up donation boxes at the independent living retirement home where he lives.

Jim, 84, served as an RAF flight engineer and air frame fitter for 27 years and has been a keen supporter of the charity for five years.

The organisation strives to provide better facilities for British servicemen and women who have been wounded or injured in the line of duty.

Jim, who lives in Churchill Retirement Living’s Abbey Lodge development, said: “When it was our diamond wedding anniversary we asked our friends and family to donate to the charity rather than buy us any presents.

"We already had more than enough collectibles and thought it would be nicer to give the money to charity instead.

"My wife sadly passed away last year, so instead of buying funeral flowers, we requested that the money go to the charity instead.

"We raised more than £1,000 in total, which I’m very proud of.

“The work that the charity does for our wounded soldiers is fantastic, and I hope to raise even more in the future.”

Now he has organised for a collection box to sit permanently in the reception at Abbey Lodge and is selling badges and wrist bands.

Carine had died while they were in the process of purchasing a one-bedroom apartment at the complex after downsizing from their home in New Milton.

Jim, a keen gardener, said: “It was very hard but EvEverybody at the lodge has been very helpful and supportive.

"There is always someone passing by for a chat and a great selection of events are held in the owners’ lounge.

"I thoroughly enjoy it here and am pleased I can keep up my fundraising too.”

The lodge consists of 29-privately owned, purpose-built one and two-bedroom apartments for the over 60s.