Elgin and Lossiemouth Armed Forces Veterans Breakfast Club launches in Moray
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A BRAND new ex-forces club launched in Moray at the weekend.
The Elgin and Lossiemouth Armed Forces Veterans Breakfast Club met for the first time on Sunday, February 20, at Miller's Café in Decora, Elgin.
Between 20 and 25 people turned up – seven ex-RAF, four ex-Army, one Navy and the rest family members. The group had breakfast, teas and coffees, and chatted away for a couple of hours.
The club is one of more than 420 Armed Forces Veterans Breakfast Clubs (AFVBC) across the world. The plan is to meet fortnightly at Decora.
Dougie France, who co-founded the Elgin and Lossie branch with his wife Tracie, said: "It was good, 20 or 25 people is good for the first meeting and we are hopeful it might get bigger.
"We chatted for a good couple of hours. Folk can't wait to come back.
"For many, it was the first time out in a while after Covid."
Mr France, who previously ran Penrith AFVBC, made it clear that anyone with a forces connection is welcome to come along to the next meeting, which will take place on Sunday, March 6.
He added: "Everybody is welcome, as long as you're a family member of someone who is ex-forces.
"Come along, introduce yourself, get breakfast, have a chat and then go home. It's very informal. There are no rules or regulations.
"The main aim is to be a signpost group, so that if anybody needs help we can point them in the right direction."
Moray's Conservative MP Douglas Ross attended the launch of the club.
He said: “It was great to pop in and meet with local service personnel and veterans.
“The club is a great idea and will benefit serving and ex-service personnel and their families living around the Moray area, who will be able to chat and share their experiences.
“Dougie and Tracie France are to be commended for setting the club up.
“Moray has a great military tradition, and we are lucky to have personnel stationed at Kinloss Barracks and RAF Lossiemouth living and working here who contribute so much to our area. This is just one of the many ways we can continue to make them feel welcome here in Moray.”
Dougie France said it was "nice to have some support" from his local MP – and thanked Decora and cafe manager Denise for help provided in giving the group a place to meet.
He added: "Decora have been very helpful and welcoming.
"The club has been on the cards for well over a year, but with Covid we haven't been able to do anything.
"We were in Decora shopping and happened to meet the cafe manager Denise, we got talking and she agreed to set some tables up for us.
"We really appreciate that."
