<![CDATA[Coupar Angus News and Information

A remarkable Perthshire veteran of the Second World War, from a BCG Coupar Angus care home, has taken to the skies in celebration of his 100th birthday, with support from Adventure Aviation, a local flight school based at Balado Airfield near Kinross.

Ascending in a fixed-wing aircraft, Dennis Arnold – who is also a former single engine Cessna pilot – was watched by family and friends as he enjoyed a private flight. It was his special wish that he flew over his former home of Alyth and his new one, Coupar Angus care home. Residents came out to wave as he made his special flyby.

Dennis, a Second World War veteran of the Royal Army Medical Corps, who celebrated his centenary on Monday, 30th March, recently participated in a film documentary called Witnesses to History, made by local arts organisation Generating Opportunity, to record local residents’ wartime experiences and memories. The film premiered at the Soutar Theatre in Perth on Remembrance Day last year, to mark the 80th Anniversary of VE and VJ Day.

Dennis demonstrated his support and commitment to his care home friends and fellow residents last summer when, over the course of 31 days, he set himself the challenge of walking 16 miles in and around his care home – the equivalent distance of walking to and from his home town of Alyth – to raise money to enhance the activities programme for his fellow residents. Past neighbours came out to cheer from their doorsteps when he returned to his home town to complete the last stretch of the challenge.

Prior to taking flight, Dennis was congratulated on his centenary by Brigadier Mark P Dobson MBE DL of His Majesty’s Perth and Kinross Lieutenancy and Strathmore Councillor, Colin Stewart.

Reflecting on his lifetime of experience, Dennis Arnold said: “As I reach my hundredth birthday, I think to myself, what does this actually mean? Each day since my last birthday, I have been travelling along my 100th year of living with all the attendant memories of long ago and not so long ago. This leads me to believe the 100th birthday is truly celebrating the fact that I have now completed my 100th year and I am about to enter my 101st year.

“Yes, I understand the need for a celebration, but it must never be forgotten that this is due to everyone around me, whether family or the brilliant staff of this care home in Coupar Angus. Without their help and constant attention to my needs, I think I would not have survived to this day.

“Throughout my life, I have had many experiences ranging from meeting my soulmate of some 67 years, raising a family and watching it grow, being in the armed forces for a period during World War II, enjoying the thrill of teaching students of all grades, learning to fly a Cessna plane and now enjoying life with my fellow care home residents. All of which have been so rewarding and a true education.

“You can imagine my pleasure at hearing I was to be granted a flight from the Flying School in Balado and to fly over both my old home town of Alyth and now my present home in Coupar Angus. I am truly blessed. The trip was remarkable and took me back to my flying days. I enjoyed myself immensely.”

Kirsty Stevens, Home Manager at BCG Coupar Angus, said: “It’s an understatement to say that, since moving here, Dennis has been a true force of nature in the home. He’s full of energy, ideas and terrific conversation. He has such a generous spirit and has been a huge voice in helping shape our care. It’s a privilege to have his company.”

Linda Grant of Generating Opportunity said: ‘It has been a privilege to get to know Dennis and we were honoured to film his Life Story. It is an amazing coincidence that Dennis is flying out of Balado Airfield, which was a training base for Spitfire pilots during the war and which was also featured in Witnesses to History.”

Originally from London’s East End, where he survived the Blitz, Dennis served in the Royal Army Medical Corps during the Second World War as an engineer on hospital ships. He moved to Scotland to take up a post at Dundee’s Technical College and has never stopped keeping active.

Dennis learned to fly in Dundee and often flew between Inverness and Newcastle. His last turn as a pilot was an instrument flight on a brand-new plane called "The Warrior" on 24 May, 1984.

Earlier in the year, with the proceeds donated towards the walking challenge he set for himself, he decided would fund the creation of a Sensory Room for the Coupar Angus care home, which was facilitated by the home’s enthusiastic team. New equipment was gathered and built into a fantastic new space for residents to enjoy. Dennis had the pleasure of cutting the ribbon.

A testament to lifelong learning, nowadays Dennis enjoys computing and still takes part in academic courses online. He holds a popular regular music entertainment session for his fellow residents where he plays song requests in one of the home’s communal lounges.