Paul Symington wrote, “I was very proud that our idea of helping wounded soldiers who are serving their country, by making a limited edition (500 cases only) of a Warre 2009 Vintage Port, should have worked out so well. Next week we give a further € 3,550.00 to the Portuguese equivalent military charity called Liga dos Combatentes on the sales of the Warre ’09 in Portugal. So we raised in total £18,240 and  €3,550.00 for the wounded and their families."

Soldier’s bravery two centuries ago raises money for heroes today

In 1809 William Warre, a 25 year old soldier from a Port producing family, fought alongside the Duke of Wellington in the famous battle that liberated his home town of Oporto. He was awarded Portugal’s highest military honour, the Ordem de São Bento d’Aviz for his bravery.

Exactly 200 years on, the Oporto-born Symington family made a Warre’s 2009 Vintage Port in honour of this young warrior and resolved to donate the profits to today’s soldiers through Help for Heroes.

On 16th February Paul Symington and his cousin Clare, presented a cheque for £18,240 to Help for Hero’s at Tedworth House in Wiltshire, the new Personal Recovery and Assessment Centre.

Paul Symington said "We are really delighted that our decision to launch a Warre’s Vintage Port in honour of this young soldier should have raised so much money for today’s wounded, Captain William Warre would undoubtedly have been pleased.

The Warre 2009 is an incredibly elegant and complex wine that will age superbly for many decades.” The Symingtons also donated a case of the Warre’s 2009 Vintage Port to Help for Heroes.

Bryn Parry, CEO and Co-founder of Help for Heroes: “We are very honoured that Warre’s Port and the Symington family chose to mark this anniversary with this donation to Help for Heroes. It’s heartening to think that the actions of one soldier 200 years ago have gone towards helping fellow soldiers in another era. H4H is all about ‘doing your bit’ and Warre’s support is fantastic. The money raised is greatly needed and it is hugely appreciated; ensuring the wounded and their families get the support they deserve, for life. On behalf of everyone at Help for Heroes and all those who the money will benefit, thank you."

 

About Help for Heroes

Thanks to the fantastic British public, Help for Heroes (H4H) has raised over £126m since its launch in October 2007. All funds raised to date are either allocated or spent on the direct, practical support of those Servicemen and women who are wounded, injured or become sick while serving our country. H4H has funded a variety of projects including the £8.5m Rehabilitation Complex at Headley Court, a new £3.5m treatment centre for Combat Stress, adaptive adventure training through the Battle Back programme and the creation of a £6m Quick Reaction Fund to support individuals in need.

In February 2010, H4H announced its key role in the creation of five regional Personnel Recovery Centres (PRCs), which provide, in partnership with the MOD, The Royal British Legion and other Service charities, ongoing training and support for the wounded after Headley Court. Locations of the PRCs include Edinburgh, Colchester, Catterick, Tidworth and Plymouth.

The centres provide training facilities, classrooms and gymnasiums with state-of-the-art sports equipment as well as opportunities to learn new skills and gain qualifications.

H4H does not seek to criticise or be political. We just want to help and we work closely with the Army, Navy and RAF to provide support where it is most needed.

For more information on how we spend your money visit the Help For Heroes website.