By Marjory Inglis, health reporter, and Bruce Robbins

PEOPLE FROM as far as Canada are queuing up to help a 95-year-old Dundee soldier battling to maintain his independence.

Veteran Alexander Ramsay has mobilised an army of volunteers after contacting The Courier about the trouble he was having getting help from Dundee City Council to provide a “run-in” to his home for a motorised scooter.

Now it appears that after months of frustration from the council, and being told by Dundee older people’s champion Helen Wright to turn to charity, the public outcry has embarrassed the council into reconsidering his case.

There were signs yesterday the council might be prepared to change its mind over the issue, with authority officers due to examine Mr Ramsay’s council house to see if the kind of access he needs is feasible.

Mr Ramsay, who was wounded in the second world war and has two artificial knees and arthritis in his hips, was told he was not “disabled enough” to qualify for adaptations to suit a scooter. He was prepared to buy the vehicle himself but does not own the home where he has lived for the last 61 years and could not go ahead with alterations to the property.

He has been inundated with offers of support and The Courier was contacted last night by a Canadian reader “appalled” at his plight.

Kenneth Irons of Ontario is also a soldier from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, the regiment in which Mr Ramsay served his country.

Mr Irons said he was “crippled” himself and used a scooter to get about, and he would consider it “an honour” to be able to assist Mr Ramsay to obtain his scooter and ramp all the way from Canada.

Meanwhile, around 265 ex-Black Watch soldiers have pledged to raise cash to provide the ramp and possibly the scooter as well.

And Carnoustie woman Sheila Scott, whose late husband Bill was in the Scots Guards and who saw her daughter and son-in-law serve in Iraq, said she was prepared to build the ramp herself although, such was the strength of feeling amongst friends and family, that she was sure she would not have to.

Mrs Scott is appealing for a building supply company to donate the necessary materials and she and her friends will supply the labour.

She said, “If you’re a druggie or an alcoholic you get everything handed to you but all Mr Ramsay is looking for is some help to stay independent and it’s not going to cost the earth.

“If someone could donate what we’d need, I will do the work along with my daughter Marianne and my friends, not all of whom are connected with the army. I can be contacted on 01241 852148.”

Former Black Watch soldier Jim Melville said his members were “shocked” at the city council’s response and were so annoyed that they determined to do something rather than “just talk about it”.

“We’re talking about doing a sponsored abseil to get the ramp put in or buy a new scooter,” he said.

An authority spokesman said yesterday, “The council does want to help Mr Ramsay and is currently arranging for officers to visit him to have further discussions about the situation. They will also be looking at the garden site itself to determine whether or not it will be technically possible to provide the kind of access he is looking for.”

Mr Ramsay was overwhelmed by the offers from people to do something for him, saying, “I think it’s just so kind of everyone. I never knew all of this was going to happen.”