Veteran charity champions first NCFC Community Heroes

We are delighted to be continuing our association with the Norwich City Community Hero initiative for another season.

Since 2019, we have joined our primary partners Norwich City Football Club in highlighting the great work of local individuals and organisations in our community. Every month during the football season, a ‘Community Hero’ is chosen for a selected matchday – providing an opportunity to showcase that person(s), or initiatives, selfless work or important community campaign.

Therefore, as our first Fosters Solicitors Community Heroes of 2023-24, we were delighted to highlight Duane and Caroline Ashworth, nominated by Norwich City supporter group, Forces2Canaries.

The pair run a non-profit charity hotel, the Lord Kitchener’s Memorial Holiday Centre in Lowestoft, for armed forces and emergency services.

Forces2Canaries’ member Neville Townsend said: “I nominated Duane and Caroline because of their tireless efforts in running the hotel.

“It serves as a community focal point on Lowestoft seafront, with the historic building requiring renovations and updates, with Caroline and Duane being the driving force organising fundraising events to fund the work.”

Duane is a former Grenadier Guardsman and his son, James Ashworth VC, was also a serving Grenadier who was killed in action 11 years ago and posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.

On being nominated, Duane said: “We love what we do here at Kitchener’s and just want to create a safe place for like-minded veterans and emergency service personnel to be able to attend and be appreciated by the community.”

Our Community Heroes proudly display James’s photo and uniform at Lord Kitchener’s with many other military historic memorabilia and uniforms.

The former Grenadier is also president of Lowestoft Royal British Legion, Chairman of Lowestoft Armed Forces Day and a member of the Victoria Cross Association.

Neville continued: “So many serving and retired forces and emergency services personnel and their families get so much from the centre, whether it is a holiday or respite break or one of the many who attend the veterans’ breakfasts throughout the year.”

Do you know someone who deserves special recognition, or does something wonderful for their local community? If so, we’d love to hear your nomination for a future game, which can be put forward via the club’s website.