Lossiemouth and Elgin Veterans Breakfast Club celebrates one-year anniversary
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A VETERANS' breakfast club that has gone from 'strength to strength' has celebrated its one-year anniversary.
Lossiemouth and Elgin Armed Forces Veterans Breakfast Club was formed in 2022 and has held gatherings fortnightly since.
The number of group members is now well into the hundreds, with around 20 to 30 people regularly attending breakfast at Miller's Café in Decora.
On Sunday, February 19, around 35 members gathered at the café to celebrate one year of the group.
Dougie France co-founded the branch with his wife Tracie. He said: "I'm ecstatic with how it's gone – it's been a fun and enjoyable year and we've gone from strength to strength.
"We knew we'd get quite a few members because of where we are – with the Royal Engineers at Kinloss, Air Force at Lossie and a lot of ex-service personnel in the area.
"But we weren't sure how many would come along and we've been delighted with turnouts – with 65 our highest so far."
Four Moray councillors – including Armed Forces champion Peter Bloomfield, who is a regular attendee, turned up on Sunday.
A cake was made to mark the anniversary and photos of the last 12 months were shared among members.
Tracie France added: "We have a lot of members that don't come to the meetings, too.
"Some have PTSD or similar issues, so we talk to them a lot online. We try to persuade them to come, and some do, but we are happy to keep in touch online."
Despite having plenty of members at the minute, Lossie and Elgin AFVC always welcome more.
Anyone who has served in the Forces – or anyone who has had a partner serve – is welcome to attend and bring family members along.
For more information, get in touch with afvbc.elginandlossie@gmail.com
