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Retired Moray lorry driver faces having to part with vast collection of memorabilia to pay for his own care

A retired lorry driver in Moray faces parting with his beloved collection of memorabilia in order to pay for his own care.

Bill Heaton, from Brodie, gathered mementos from the haulage industry during a career that spanned almost six decades.

However, the 88-year-old has been housebound ever since he was struck down by a mystery illness three years ago.

Doctors have still been able to diagnose his malady.


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Prior to the illness, the pensioner was able to visit a nearby day centre for company, where he also received hot meals.

But now the former trucker, who is unable to walk unaided, cannot leave his home on his own.

Calls to charities have proven fruitless due to a shortage of volunteers in the area, forcing him to consider turning to a private service that costs £25 per hour.

And now Mr Heaton, who is originally from Manchester, has decided to sell his vast collection of books, models and artefacts from his time in haulage to help cover the bill.

He said: “I need to try and get a bit of help – someone to help take me out and ride round things.

“I used to go to a place two days a week and it was great for me. I can’t get there now. I’ve nobody up here to take me out – and nobody in England either.

“I’ll be sad to see the collection go. Lorry driving was my life, I loved it. I’d still be doing it now if I was fit.”

Mr Heaton got his first job in the industry in 1944 – tying up wagons packed with milk, soap and butter when he was just 14 years old.

Over the following 57 years, he transported goods to every corner of the country while gathering mementos of haulage firms in all manner of towns and cities.

Now Mr Heaton, who has carers visit him in the morning to wash him, estimates his collection could be worth up to £5,000.

He hopes to use the cash to ease the burden of daily life.

He added: “It costs me £30 now just to get my hair cut once you count the cost of a taxi to Forres and back.

“I can’t get volunteers to take me out. I can get someone to collect my shopping but it costs £25 per hour.

“You can imagine them running around getting everything but once it goes over the hour then that’s another £25.”