after the war, those who served in Burma were given the Burma Star and shortly after the Burma Star Association was formed. In the early 1950's Dad started doing welfare work in his local branch, Dagenham, helping Burma Star holders who were having a hard time, often through illness.
A couple of years later he became the National Welfare Officer for the Burma Star Association, an entirely voluntary unpaid job he did in the evenings and at weekends whilst continuing as a self-employed plumber during the week.
In his welfare role he wrote many letters and made phone calls getting benefits paid, holidays arranged and helping many families. He was often a guest of honour at local branches and so he and mum travelled all around the country. He continued this welfare work well into his retirement long after he hung up his plumbing tools at age 65.