Welcome Major DJ Hamilton RLC

We are delighted to announce that after a successful trustee recruitment period, we have welcomed 4 new trustees to our board, to support in the development of our new 5 year strategy.  Each week we will feature one of our new trustees to officially welcome them to the Fares4Free family.

Can you please introduce yourself and explain a little bit of your professional background?

Del enlisted into the Army in June 1985 as an Apprentice Chef within the Army Catering Corps. He assumed his current appointment as Officer Commanding the Personnel Recovery Centre (PRC) in Jan 2016. Having served in various units throughout this career and in various locations worldwide he reached the pinnacle of his non commissioned career in April 2006 when he was promoted to Warrant Officer Class One and took up the post of Brigade Catering Warrant Officer for HQ 51 Infantry Brigade, located in Stirling. He assumed the role of Staff Officer Grade 3 in 2008 within 51 Inf Brigade where his responsibilities included administration elements for the Royal Guard at Balmoral, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the overseeing of single living accommodation and service families accommodation in Scotland. He initially took up the post of Welfare Officer within the PRC in June 2012 and subsequently the Officer Commanding post in 2016. It is a position he finds fully worthwhile and rewarding although, as with all jobs, not without it’s challenges. He sits as a Trustee for Veterans Housing Scotland as well as being an advocate with the Army Benevolent Fund in Scotland.

Why did you want to join the Fares4Free board of trustees and what do you see yourself bringing to the charity?

Having had numerous discussions with the CEO of Fares4Free I felt that I could possibly contribute to the long term strategy and plan for the Charity. Some of the personnel on recovery duty within the PRC have the same issues and potential needs of some of the current Fares4Free clientele therefore the sharing of ideas and best practice could in fact help both organisations. I see myself hopefully bringing 39 years of military experience, a knowledge of the problems that veterans face, whether early service leavers, medically discharged or the older veteran in the local community.

Why is it important to you to help The Armed Forces Community.

Although still serving, I feel that I am now in a role and in a position where I can give a little back to the larger Armed Forces Community. Due to the fact that a number of personnel that pass through the PRC will medically discharge from service, I see my involvement with veterans charities as purely an extension of my day job. I feel I have a sense of what service veterans may require to ensure they can move on with their lives, in the best way possible and with the required support they can thrive in society.