Hundreds sign petition to save Rustington respite home for war heroes

On July 13, it was revealed that Princess Marina House in Seafield Road would be shutting its doors for good due to the pandemic and visitor numbers being expected to dwindle.

The news sent shockwaves through the village and beyond, as the care home which acted as a holiday destination for RAF veterans and their families had been an institution since 1969.

On Sunday, Ava Holland started a petition on Change.org to the board of trustees of the RAF Benevolent Fund charity, urging them to keep the home open. It picked up 1,400 signatures in less than 24 hours. On the post, she said she started it for her great-grandmother, who was a regular visitor. She said: “Family can come and stay too, and the people who stay can meet a lot of people who were also in the RAF in World War Two. This helps them make friends and relate their experiences with others.”