A disabled army veteran has told how former Aberdeen City Council leader Kate Dean helped him secure the welfare benefits he is entitled to.
John Parker of Pennan Road, Tillydrone, who served in the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards, turned to the Armed Services Advice Project – part of the Citizens Advice Bureau – after being arrested for drunken and disorderly behaviour earlier this year.
The project’s regional support officer is Mrs Dean, a former Liberal Democrat councillor who led the local authority between 2003-09.
Mr Parker, 56, a former mechanic and taxi driver who served between 1978 and 1987, suffers from multiple health difficulties including post traumatic stress disorder.
He said: “I got arrested by the police for drunken stupidity and they put me in touch with Kate earlier this year and ever since then we have been trying to get things sorted out.
“I have found the project very useful because up until I met Kate I was living on about £65 a week.
“I have problems walking, I have to use a crutch all the time, and she put me in touch with the right people.
“I now have just over £100 a week.”
Divorcee Mr Parker lives alone in a council flat with his dog Bonzo and hopes to move back to his home town of Derby in the future.
Mr Parker has lived in Aberdeen since 1999 and was based in Osnabruck in Germany when he was in the forces and served in Northern Ireland.
He said he was very reflective on Armistice Day and thought about his former life in the military.
Mr Parker said: “I have friends who were injured during active service, I do not know anyone who was actually killed, but at this time of year you do think about things.”