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Seam work makes the dream work as James answers curtain call

Whitefoord House residents are enjoying a welcome addition to their rooms, and for some a better night’s sleep, following the generous donation of curtains by our friends at Edinburgh Marriott Hotel Holyrood.

The Marriott Holyrood team recently gifted Scottish Veterans Residences the batch of curtains, along with other quality, furniture, desks, artwork and televisions, worth more than £11,000.

After taking initial delivery of the curtains, we then had the challenge of altering them to fit bedroom windows of varying shapes and sizes at Whitefoord House. In need of some expertise, we put out a public appeal to see if anyone in the community could help.

Up stepped James Wilson, founder of local business James Wilson Interiors, who kindly volunteered to come to our rescue and ensure the curtains were carefully measured, altered and hung.

James, whose showroom has been a fixture in Stockbridge for 30 years, explained: “I first heard about SVR through my sister Janet (Harkess) who is Occupational Therapist for the organisation. Her enthusiasm and excitement rubbed off on me, and when I heard of your appeal I was happy to lend a hand.

“Another nice aspect to this work is that one of my seamstresses is married to a Veteran.  When she recently contacted me for work - there was only one person who was going to do this job and it was her! I delivered the curtains to her work room and after a few weeks she had finished them all. It was then my job to pop into Whitefoord House and hang them. I hope the new curtains will allow people to benefit from a good night’s sleep. They are made from good material and enhance the existing surroundings.”

“It was great meeting and working alongside SVR’s staff and residents, and as I spent a bit of time working in each of the rooms I was able to get interesting snippets of people’s lives and how they were reacting to life after military service.

“It was a privilege to learn more anout the charity and perhaps I will get the opportunity to help further in due course.”

SVR would like to thank sincerely James for his time, his expertise, and this charitable act.