A 101-year-old Ravenshead resident who was wounded twice during the Second World War has taken out a 10-year warranty on his new Viessmann Vitodens 100-W combi 35kW boiler.
Pictured above: (l-r): Andrew Dumelow, owner of The Boiler Club Ltd; Donald Sutton, aged 101 years; Alex Scott, Viessmann area business manager
“The warranty gives me peace of mind,” explains WWII veteran Donald Sutton, who fought throughout the War in Syria, North Africa, Sicily, Italy and France and has numerous medals for bravery. “I plan to see it through, and I hope I can extend it after 10 years if necessary!”
The new boiler replaces Mr Sutton’s last Viessmann boiler, which was installed in 2006. Both were fitted by The Boiler Club Ltd in Ravenshead, where Mr Sutton has been a customer since 1987.
The Boiler Club owner Andrew Dumelow says: “Mr Sutton asked us to choose his new boiler for him because he knows we will always do the best for him. Considering how hard his last boiler worked, it did very well to keep going for so many years, so we wanted to replace it with another Viessmann. Mr Sutton’s war-time record is amazing, but, being the person he is, he always plays it down, saying, ‘We did what was expected.’ He is full of life with a great sense of humour. A really lovely customer to have.”
Mr Sutton was wounded in the leg at the Battle of El Alamein in Egypt and again in the arm in Italy, before taking part in the D-Day landings and subsequent battles in France. He lives an independent life at his home (number 101 on his street!), which he keeps at a constant temperature of 23ºC, day and night. “Like my last boiler, my new one keeps me lovely and warm. It’s like being in the desert – except that was a very dry heat.”
