MORE than 20 ex-servicemen and women visited the Box Cafe for Cumnock’s first veterans’ breakfast on Saturday, August 23.

A little help from Poppy Scotland helped set up the club and representatives from Irvine’s veterans’ breakfast club came down to show their support.

Barbara Goudie has spearheaded the project as she wanted to improve the range of services and support available for veterans in Cumnock and Doon Valley.

She said: “The inaugural Cumnock Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club (AV&VBC) opened on Saturday, August 25 with over 23 veterans and their families in attendance.

“Of those, there were five representatives from the Irvine Breakfast Club who came down to support our club on its first day.

“Two of our local attendees were still serving and we also had a representative from Poppy Scotland in attendance to signpost anyone who is facing any issues at the moment.

“Poppy Scotland have been so supportive by spreading the word amongst their clients and giving out flyers in their Kilmarnock branch office.

“There was a broad age range of veterans; from those in their 20s up to those in their 70s and it was good to see people of all ages mixing and chatting within minutes of meeting each other.

“We had retired members from a wide spectrum of the military including the Royal Regiment of Scotland, Royal Logistic Corps, Women’s Royal Army Corps and the Adjutant General Corps to name but a few and people had travelled from Ochiltree, New Cumnock, and Logan.

“Everyone enjoyed a hot brew whilst chatting with fellow veterans and the breakfast was delicious and ranged from hot filled rolls to the big belly busting breakfast.

“I was delighted at the turn out and I hope to see more of our local veterans in the future.”

Cumnock AF&VBC is held every Saturday from 10am to 12pm in The Box Cafe, Tanyard, Cumnock. Details can be found at www.afvbc.net/find-a-club/ or on Facebook.