Breakfast club in Grantham for veterans marks second anniversary
The Grantham Armed Forces Veterans Breakfast Club (AFVBC) has marked its second anniversary.
An anniversary event was held at its usual venue of The Tollemache, on St Peter’s Hill.
The AFVBC has been ever growing since its inception in 2017.
Attendees are represented not only by tri-service veterans and serving personnel but also their spouses, partners and carers.
Club founder James Hill said: “Service personnel from the Army, Navy and Air Force are like minded people sharing similar experiences and like nothing more than engaging in a tongue in cheek manner of harmless banter.
“The ‘Pongos’, ‘Mateloes’ and Brylcream men and women from the Grantham branch have represented this nation during WW2, and engaged in conflicts all around the world right up until today.”
The AFVBC has over 70 regular attendees and 169 Facebook members who get together on the second and last Saturday of each month, with new faces showing up almost every time.
James said: “Attendance is slightly higher on the last Saturday as we host a self-funding raffle which has been organised by Mr and Mrs Jeff Aslick since we started and is very popular
“There are no hidden agendas, the club meet for a self paid breakfast and individuals can come and go as they please.”
The anniversary event also coincided with an organised charity bake and buy sale of various home-made cakes, sponges, scones and other sweet delicacies for Cancer Research.
After breakfast had been served, each cake was individually auctioned off throughout the morning. The bidding started off slowly with the first selection of lemon slices selling for £3 to Steve Reese and the final chocolate and orange sponge going for £25, kindly donated by Tracey Hill.
A final donation of £257 was given to Carol Ramsey, the manager of the local Cancer Research branch in Grantham after the auction concluded.
James added: “A special mention to all those that participated, attended and donated, without whom this club would not be as successful as it is today.
“Any forces personnel who are interested in sharing a breakfast are most welcome.
“A veteran sharing breakfast with others, is one less having breakfast on their own.”
Anyone interested in joining the group can call James on 07921 055429 for more information.
