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On the first Saturday of every month, veterans gather at The Three Keys in Episkopi, not for drills, but for breakfast, laughs, and a chance to catch up.
The Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club (AFVBC) launched three years ago and now has around 90 members, welcoming anyone with a military background. For some, like 86-year-old Ricky Lemon, it’s a lifeline.
“I enjoy it because my wife died and I’m on my own,” he says, joking about his dog, “I talk to him a lot, but he doesn’t say much.”
The club tackles loneliness head-on. Around 31% of veterans report feeling isolated, and Cyprus is home to roughly 2,200 retired veterans and more than 20,000 younger ones.
Brian Wilkes, who founded the club with his wife Sandra, says it gives people a reason to leave the house. “A lot of discussions are about health problems, but it’s also about camaraderie and friendship,” he adds.
Many members have fond memories of serving in Cyprus. Rob Price, 58, served with 7 Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery and fell in love with the island in the 1980s. “The military banter and taking the mickey out of each other, everyone gets it, is what makes it fun,” he says.
For Michael Morgan-Guy, the club is a way to stay connected after leaving the Army. “When you finish work as a civilian, you go home. You lose that friendship. This is a chance to reminisce and meet old comrades.”
With coffee, stories, and plenty of laughs, the AFVBC is helping Cyprus veterans stay connected, supported, and far from lonely.
*Source: ForcesNews.com
