D-Day vet, 104, says he feels ‘like a prisoner in my own home’ after lifts on estate break down

By Adrian Zorzut, Local Democracy Reporter

He evaded Nazi capture in North Africa for three years and pushed Hitler’s forces off the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. What this stoic World War II veteran didn’t expect was to become a prisoner in his own home after fighting for our freedom.

Now living in a first floor flat in Parkinson House, on the Lillington and Longmoore Estate in Pimlico, Percival ‘Percy’ Chafer feels trapped as the lift he relies on to get in and out of his home constantly breaks down.

He said: “It’s like being in a prison, really. You’ve seen these four walls for how many times? I don’t know. A million times.”

Mr Chafer has lived on the estate for 38 years, the last 24 of those alone after his wife passed away. For this D-Day veteran, keeping fit and active is his secret to living to old age and he still does the cleaning, cooking and his own shopping.

But lifts in the tower block can be out of action for two to three weeks at a time.

Another elderly resident, who didn’t want to be named, said he sometimes has to risk his safety and exhaust himself by walking down the stairs or else he’ll be trapped indoors.

He claimed parts are manufactured from scratch or ordered in from Germany, which contributes to the repair delays.

Mr Chafer said: “You’ve just got to put up with it, but I can’t get out. I can’t do the shopping. I like to do things myself. If you send people shopping, they’ll bring the wrong stuff back and stuff you can’t use sometimes.”

He also said without working lifts, he can’t get to the communal garden and sit in the sunshine which he says helps alleviate his arthritis. It also stops him from attending events in the communal hub downstairs or going on regular visits to Hyde Park, which he gets to by bus.

The breakdowns became so bad that at one point, Mr Chafer was forced to walk backwards down two flights of stairs in his desperation to get outside.

The lifts are not the only issue this Légion d’honneur recipient has faced since living in the flat. Mr Chafer once spent four weeks at his grandson’s after a pipe burst under his floorboards.

Westminster City council said it is in touch with Mr Chafer to offer any support he may need and to provide an update on the repairs to his property. It also said the lifts are regularly maintained and they are regularly reviewing issues in order to make the repairs quickly.

Mr Chafer said: “The lift breaks, it breaks. You can’t blame the guy at the top of the stack, you know. But they should really replace the lifts. Let’s face it, but it’s money.”

A Westminster council spokesman said: “The council appreciates that breakdowns are frustrating especially for residents with mobility issues.”

Born in 1919, Mr Chafer grew up in Paddington and worked the railways until he was drafted into service in 1939. He recalls drinking beer with pals as then-Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain announced that Britain was at war with Germany.

He remembers his friends wondering if the conflict would affect them. Two months later, on his 20th birthday, Mr Chafer got his answer – he was drafted into the 333 Battery 59th anti-tank regiment in the Royal Artillery.

He narrowly avoided the Battle of Dunkirk and was instead sent to join the 8th Army in North Africa. As gunner, he fought against German General Rommel’s men in cat-and-mouse warfare and stormed El Alamein with British war hero, Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery.

On D-Day he landed on Sword Beach – one of two spots designated for British troops – and would eventually push the Nazis back to the River Elbe in Germany.

Pictured top: D-Day Vet Percy Chafer holding pictures of him in uniform and as a young boy (Picture: Facundo Arrizabalaga)