Coronavirus: Portsmouth D-Day hero stuck at home because of Covid-19 'blown away' after man repairs his washing machine for free

Graham Parsons, the welfare officer of the Portsmouth Parachute Regimental Association, said D-Day hero Arthur Bailey, 95, was lost for words after Colin Nelson’s gesture on Thursday.

Mr Nelson, 59 from Cosham, was contacted by the association a day previously after the door mechanism of Mr Bailey’s washing broke, rendering it unable to start a cycle.

But after the domestic repair man of 33 years solved the issue at Mr Bailey’s Cosham home he refused to accept a penny, and stayed to listen to his memories of the Normandy invasion and the Battle of Arnhem.

Mr Nelson told The News: ‘We have to remember these people and what they’ve gone through for us.

‘Arthur wasn’t expecting it, and when he asked what he owed I just said “nothing at all”.’

He added: ‘We didn’t want any recognition for this but [Graham] has now told all his friends and we’re getting lots of emails saying how nice it was.

‘If anything it was a privilege to be able to meet Mr Bailey. If we can’t do something nice for him after everything he’s done for us, what can we do?’

Mr Nelson surprised the veteran, who lives alone in Cosham his 14-year-old border collie, with a hamper of eggs, bacon, mushrooms, sausages, butter, bread, hand sanitizer and other items a day later.

He said: ‘I discussed it with my wife and we thought it would be a nice thing to do.

‘She’s now offered to pop round and do some cleaning for him.’

Mr Parsons, 62 from Horndean, said the gesture came at a time when Mr Bailey felt like his world was ‘falling apart around him’.

The veteran has been left unable to see his 90-year-old girlfriend on Mondays after her care home closed to visitors because of coronavirus.

Meanwhile he has been unable to carry out his weekly duties at the D-Day Story museum in Southsea, which has also closed, or attend association meetings, which have ceased to protect members’ safety.

SEE ALSO: Coronavirus: Visiting to Queen Alexandra Hospital restricted to one hour per day

‘I spoke to Arthur after Colin’s impressive gesture and he couldn’t believe it – he was blown away,’ said Mr Parsons.

‘I’m extremely grateful for what he has done.

‘Colin has played the Good Samaritan and we need more people like that.

‘If we can get through two World Wars, we can get through this.’