Scots war heroes save Christmas after fire threatened festive feast at charity centre

Scottish war heroes have saved Christmas - after a blaze threatened to ruin their festive feast.

Young and old veterans had to flee a burning community centre on Friday when a fire broke out. The veterans evacuated the Coming Home Centre - a lifeline charity - based in the Pearce Institute in Govan, Glasgow , as fire engines raced to the scene at about 10.30am.

Staff feared their Christmas lunch had gone up in smoke but veterans and workers managed to salvage their Christmas goodies.

Smoke billows from the Pearce Institute in Govan, Glasgow (Facebook)

Melvyn Wood, Coming Home Centre director, said: “While some damage has been done to the building, the fire that broke out earlier was confined to two small offices. They are planning for the building to reopen on Monday morning.

“The Coming Home Centre was unaffected. The Christmas lunch on Tuesday can therefore go ahead as planned. Grateful thanks to the Fire Service and the Pearce Institute staff who have been working hard to get the place safe and tidied up.”

At the time of the blaze, operations manager Drew McKinney, 55, said: “One of our veterans has just had a hip replacement and he’s in his 70s but he got down the stairs OK.

“As always, the Pearce Institute have been brilliant with us. They always go out of their way to help.”

Firefighters at the blaze at the lifeline centre in Govan, Glasgow (Daily Record)

Last month, a former Royal Marine who was shot by the Taliban on the same day he saw his friend killed has credited the Coming Home Centre with saving his life after he was medically discharged.

Adam Edwards, who lives in Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute, was diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder following his experiences in Afghanistan.

He was medically discharged from the 45 Commando based in Arbroath, Angus, but said he “didn’t know what to do with his life” until he arrived at the centre in Govan.

The 39-year-old credited the Glasgow centre, where he now works, with saving his life and those of other veterans.

He said veterans have told him that without the centre keeping them engaged through social activities, outings and companionship they “would have died because of the problems in their lives”.