Drumchapel man celebrated looking after 123 war graves

Alan Chalmers, an associate perioperative practitioner at NHS Golden Jubilee, volunteers his time to care for the graves of fallen servicemen and women.

With 28 years of service in the Infantry Army Reserves, 6 SCOTS, based in Glasgow, Alan brings a deep sense of duty to his volunteer work.

Alan said: "For me, every day is remembrance. There is always something that brings those memories back.

"Remembrance Sunday gives everyone the opportunity to stop and reflect, but those people and those memories are always there."

The cause is also personal as his son Ross, who served with The Royal Highland Fusiliers, died in a motorcycle accident in Cyprus in 2004 at the age of 20.

For around three years, Alan has volunteered with Hands On, Eyes On, an initiative linked to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

He currently maintains 123 graves at Lambhill Cemetery, checking headstones, clearing leaves and vegetation, taking photographs, and reporting on their condition.

Lambhill Cemetary (Image: Robert Perry)

While volunteers are typically asked to visit the graves twice a year, Alan often goes more frequently.

He said: "It’s about giving something back. It costs nothing other than my time, and I’m quite happy doing it.

"Every headstone tells a story and, when you start looking into the people behind them, you feel like you get to know a little bit about who they were."

This was prove to be true very close to home when Alan discovered that one of the graves on his patch had personal connection to a colleague at NHS Golden Jubilee.

While tending to one of the graves, he learned the serviceman buried there was the great-uncle of a fellow staff member.

He said: "I had already been looking after the grave and taking photographs when I mentioned the surname to a family friend and he told me it was his uncle.

"I then looked into the history and realised the connection. You never know what story you are going to find."

Lambhill Cemetary (Image: Robert Perry)

Sandie Scott, director of strategic communications and stakeholder relations and armed forces lead at NHS Golden Jubilee, said: "NHS Golden Jubilee has a longstanding commitment to supporting and recognising our Armed Forces community, and remembrance is an important part of that commitment.

"We are proud to support serving personnel, veterans, reservists and military families, and to recognise the contribution they make to our organisation and wider society.

"My own grandfather’s war grave is in Egypt, so I understand how important it is that those who served, wherever they are laid to rest, continue to be remembered and that their stories are passed on to future generations.

"That is why Alan’s dedication is so meaningful.

"His own connection to the Armed Forces makes this work particularly personal, and it is wonderful to see the time and care he gives to ensuring those who served, and the stories behind their service, are never forgotten."

Alan hopes his story will inspire others to learn about the servicemen and women commemorated in their communities— and perhaps get involved in honouring their memory.