By Adrian Hughes
Orkney Veterans’ Breakfast Club – 27th January 2024
Last weekend saw the 7th Anniversary of the first meeting of the Orkney Armed Forces’ and Veterans’ Breakfast Club.
On the 26th January 2017, a group of around 15 ex-servicemen and women met at, “Eats ‘n Treats” in Kirkwall, to introduce themselves to each other and have a chat over breakfast.
Today the group, now better known simply as the Veteran’s Breakfast Club, have seen their ranks swell to over 130. Last Saturday twenty-nine of them showed up for their first get-together of 2024 at a new venue for them; The Pier Cafe, in Stromness, where they were very well looked after by Jean and Pauline.
Speaking about the anniversary, the group’s originating member and co-ordinator, Simon Brodie said:
“I’m just really happy that more and more local veterans are becoming part of group, because that means it’s working. It has always been about local veterans working together to build a community. No egos, no pomp, no formalities; just sitting down and breaking bread together”
The veterans have an active Facebook page, with new people joining every week, but Simon makes a point of contacting those who are not on Facebook to make sure they are invited to each event. He added:
“It’s important that we maintain contact with our members, even if they can’t join us for breakfast.
We have contacts within in the group that can arrange help and support for any veterans that might need it and to me, that is what we are all about; looking out for each other.
Along with Simon, another original Breakfaster is ex-Royal Navy man, John Davidson.
A native of Stromness, he joined the service in 1988 as a Junior Marine Engineering Mechanic, otherwise known as a, “Stoker” and soon after completing his initial engineering training at HMS Sultan, in Gosport, John was drafted to his first ship… HMS Orkney; which soon sailed for his first ever overseas port visit… Kirkwall.
The Orkney came here in 1989, with John aboard, to lead the 50th anniversary commemoration service for HMS Royal Oak.
On 14th October 1939, a German submarine, U-47, entered Scapa Flow and sank the battleship, Royal Oak, with a torpedo attack, killing or fatally injuring 835 members of the ship’s company. The wreck is marked with a very large green buoy and remains designated a war grave:
“For the 50th anniversary, because I was the youngest onboard, and an Orcadian, I was given the wreath to lay in Scapa Flow, and because it was the 50th anniversary, FOSNI came up from Rosyth, [Flag Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland] Sir Jock Slater, who I think has Orcadian family links; so it was me and the Admiral laying wreaths at the buoy”.
During his time in the Royal Navy, as well as HMS Orkney, John served on HM Ships Lindisfarne, Alderney and Guernsey, all Island Class fishery protection patrol vessels, and then the Mine Hunters, Blyth and Penzance.
One of the most memorable occasions of his naval career happened in 2003, whilst serving on HMS Blyth during the Gulf War:
“We were just inside Iraqi waters when it started. It was gone midnight; it was unreal. We were watching up in the sky and it was just cruise missile after cruise missile; we were watching these lines going through the dark sky. Christ; it was scary! We were out there for eight months.”
John’s time in the RN came to an end shortly after his 40th birthday in 2011, and days later he joined the RNLI as the lifeboat’s full-time mechanic, back home in Stromness. He’s been there ever since.
As the mechanic, whenever there is a, “shout”, he goes with the boat. Although there are a couple of volunteer mechanics who occasionally take his place, in 2023 he attended over 80% of the operations involving the Stromness crew. So, on top of his 23 years in the Royal Navy, he is still a seafarer and continues to serve his community and therefore, his country.
As mentioned earlier, John was part of that first group that met for breakfast in Kirkwall, back in 2017. He said:
“I can’t remember exactly how I first heard about the Breakfast Club, but I was Chairman of the Stromness Royal British Legion at the time, so I think I probably saw an advertisement for it on our noticeboard. From the start, I thought it a very good way of getting people out; to enjoy some company and talk about memories of their time in the forces. I highly recommend it; it’s very sociable and there will always be somebody who can point you in the right direction if you need help with anything”.
The Orkney Veterans’ Breakfast Club meets at various locations around the county on the last Saturday of each month. If you’re a veteran, or a serving member, of any of the armed forces, Regular or Reserve, or their immediate family, you’re welcome to join them. There’s no admin and no fees, apart from the price of your breakfast, but you’ll probably be asked a bit about your time in the service. The invitation to join is extended to visitors and residents, and also includes anyone who has served any other country; you can be sure of a warm welcome.
If you are the manager of a cafe, restaurant or pub in Orkney that might like to host the veterans one Saturday morning, please do get in touch; they really want to hear from you. There’s usually around 30 attendees each month, most of them ordering a traditional cooked breakfast, although there’s a very small number who’ll require a vegetarian option.
For more details please visit the group’s Facebook page, or contact Simon, the group’s coordinator: 07909 640884 – orkneyveteransbreakfastclub@outlook.com.
“We look forward to meeting you”.
Categories: Local News
