Millionaires commemorate VE Day by building garden for veterans
A peaceful, fully accessible garden that will be enjoyed by Armed Forces veterans has been built by a group of National Lottery millionaires as part of commemorations of the 80th anniversary of VE Day.
The VE80 commemorative pathway was built for Veterans’ Growth, a National Lottery-funded project that supports veterans from the Army, Royal Navy and RAF who are suffering from mental health conditions such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The pathway was built at Veterans’ Growth’s headquarters near Battle in East Sussex.
The group of 18 hardworking National Lottery millionaires included Armed Forces veterans and several serving police officers. The winners – whose combined worth is £115Million – worked alongside members of the Veterans’ Growth team and veterans who use the project’s services.
The VE80 commemorative pathway is designed to be a peaceful place that encourages reflection. It was designed by veterans and features plants and flowers such as Remembrance Roses and Forget-Me-Nots that have a special significance for Veterans’ Growth service users.
National Lottery millionaire Joseph Goolding, who served in the Royal Engineers for five years, was the leader of the team who built the garden. Fellow National Lottery millionaires and Royal Navy veterans Desiree Home and Sharon Hall planted the border with the help of National Lottery millionaire and RAF veteran Ruth Doyle.
Ruth said, “It’s very moving to be here today, celebrating 80 years of peace since the end of World War II in Europe, while remembering the many millions who made the ultimate sacrifice.
“In my nine wonderful years in the RAF I learned very quickly that when people come together and unite, great things can be achieved. On a small scale, that’s what has happened today. We’re all here thanks to an amazing stroke of National Lottery luck, but our shared goal today was to do something that will benefit this incredible project, remember those who are no longer with us and celebrate our shared peace.”
Jason Stevens, an Army veteran and the founder of Veterans’ Growth, knows exactly how important gardens and gardening can be to those with mental health issues. He said, “When I was medically discharged from the Army, horticulture was my saviour. So much of what we do is making sure the recipients of our services know someone cares, that they don’t feel isolated, that they can gain confidence, knowledge and experience in a supportive environment.
“It’s clear to us today that winning The National Lottery is so much more than money. Everyone here today has said that the chance to give back is the thing they most enjoy about life since winning. And boy have they done that. Everyone has worked so hard, doing their bit and pulling together to get the job done.
“Today has truly been a fitting celebration of VE80 and I hope that the pathway and garden will bring many moments of peace to our veteran men and women who so desperately need to find it in their daily lives.”
30th April 2025
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