A CHEQUE for £300 has been donated to Weldmar’s Hospicecare Trust by a man, after he received donations for a book he created with their help.

Dennis Ackerman, 89, currently receives support from the Community Nurses Team at Weldmar’s Bridport Social Group at the Community Hospital.

At the age of 15, Dennis started an apprenticeship in engineering at Brit Engineering in Bridport.

He said that the company provided him with the training and encouragement to gain the skills he required as an engineer.

His job has taken him across Great Britain and to Venezuela and Australia.

He created his book, ‘Memoirs of a Boy Apprentice’, with the help of Eileen Haste, Arts Practitioner at Weldmar Hospice Trust, who assisted him in telling his story through words and photographs.

Dennis said: “I was so happy when Eileen gave me the chance to create my book , something I have wanted to do for many years.

“I felt that I needed to make a record of a company that I owe so much for.”

As part of the art therapies provided by Weldmar, creative support is given to patients and their families who would like to explore particular interests that is personal to them through art forms that help them to express themselves.

This type of therapy allows people to explore and revisit aspects of their lives such as a particular time or relationship.

This can help them to leave something behind for loves ones.

The charity said that this can be therapeutic and help them to express themselves at the end of their life or during bereavement.

Eileen said: “Dennis was incredibly motivated, and visited libraries and other resources to find the many photographs and documents that form part of the book.

“He is a very active man, and I know that he continues to entertain people at local care homes, playing on his keyboard.”

Dennis said: “I wanted to give something back to Weldmar, in return for their care and support. So, with Eileen’s help, I paid for 50 copies of my book to be printed and I then handed them out to my family and friends.

“I asked them if they would care to make a donation to Weldmar in return for the book and, so far, this has raised £300 with still more to come”

The cheque for £300 was presented to Lyn Goward, co-ordinator of Weldmar’s Bridport Social Group, and Eileen Haste in April.