Cyprus veterans club tackles isolation with companionship and a hearty breakfast
A breakfast club in Cyprus is helping veterans stay connected long after they leave service.
Launched three years ago, the Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club in Episkopi now boasts around 90 members.
Veterans and the wider forces community meet on the first Saturday of the month at The Three Keys to share stories, build friendships and enjoy breakfast together.
Designed to tackle loneliness and isolation, the group is mostly of retirement age, but anyone with a forces background is welcome.
Ricky Lemon, who served in the Grenadier Guards for seven years, said: "I do enjoy it [the breakfast club] because my wife died and I'm on my own."
Aged 86, the British Army veteran is sharp, enjoying the black humour synonymous with the military.
"I've got my dog and I talk to him a lot, but he doesn't say much," he said.
Around 31% of veterans feel lonely, according to the Office for Veterans Affairs.
It's estimated 2,200 retired veterans are living in Cyprus, but there are more than 20,000 younger veterans on the island too.
Sarah Geddes, who represents the Veterans Information Partnership, told BFBS Forces News: "We've discovered that there wasn't much support for veterans in Cyprus from the UK agencies."
"We spoke to loads of organisations on the island - now we all help each other out when needed.
“Things like breakfast clubs get people involved, so they are not sat at home alone," she added.
Filling a void for Cyprus veterans
Armed Forces & Veterans Breakfast Clubs, or AFVBC, are a popular concept among the veterans' community, with more than 500 iterations and 150,000 members around the world.
Brian Wilkes set up the Cyprus club with his wife Sandra after noticing a gap in the local community of expats and veterans.
"We have a couple of members of partners who have passed on and it gives them a chance to get out the house," he said. "Because we're all getting a bit long in the tooth, there’s a lot of discussions about health problems."
Many in the group deployed to Cyprus during their time with the British Armed Forces, including Rob Price, aged 58, who served with 7 Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery.
"I was here in the 1980s on a Lion Sun tour, and just fell in love with the place," he said.
"I retired here about four years ago."
He says military banter and comradeship are key attractions for joining.
"There's a friendly group of people here and everyone takes the mickey out of each other," he added.
Michael Morgan-Guy served in the British Army for 15 years, including with the Royal Logistic Corps.
"It's the best way to meet old comrades who have something in common with me," he said.
Michael retired in April after working in the Transport Office and is joining the group for the first time.
"When you're a civilian, you finish work and go home," he said.
"We lose the friendship. That's why I wanted to come here, to reminisce on the old days."
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