A group including north-east veterans is serving brunch in an attempt to reduce social isolation among their former comrades.
Ex-forces personnel from across the region are being invited to Cullen at the weekend for the first Tea and Medals event to swap stories over a meal.
More than half the members of the men’s shed group in the town is currently comprised of people from a military background.
Organisers from the Three Kings Cullen Association hope the get-togethers at the Cullen Community and Residential Centre will encourage veterans to become more involved in the community and get support.
Director Stan Slater, who served at RAF Lossiemouth, said: “We just want to get people together and hope that it becomes a regular event.
“Social isolation is more common in a rural area like Cullen because we’re right on the boundary between Aberdeenshire and Moray so we’re on the edge of things.
“Traditionally, we’ve managed to pull in people from Findochty and over to Portsoy for other events and we know there are veterans from Ireland, Iraq and World War II in the area but also those who did national service.”
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The weekend event is being supported by charities Age Scotland, Music in Hospital and Care Scotland as well as Moray Council with funding from the Moray and Highland Armed Forces Covenant.
A coach party from Aberdeen has already agreed to attend with veterans encouraged to bring mementos and swap stories about their experiences.
Music has also been arranged with a band to play songs from yesteryear to rekindle long-forgotten memories.
Colin Burch, a director of Three Kings Cullen Association who is a former member of 2622 Squadron at RAF Lossiemouth, said: “Believe it or not, men can get to old age and just begin to struggle to cope with some of the simplest tasks.
“They’ve been married their whole lives and never been on their own. This is a good way to build that support mechanism among military men.”
The veterans’ brunch will be held at Cullen Community and Residential Centre on Sunday from noon to 2.30pm. Free entry.
