A FORMER soldier from Gourock who served in Afghanistan is joining forces with a comrade to show there is life after the armed services.

Ex Scots Guard Jordan Finnegan, who like many ex-service personnel has suffered from post traumatic stress disorder, spoke to the Tele about the impact of life in the army and the difficulties he faced afterwards.

During his spell in the military he experienced the highs of Trooping the Colour, to guarding President Barack Obama on his state visit while also being caught up in the line of fire in Helmand Province.

Now he is going into business with a long-time friend who he met in Helmand Province - and believes they can offer hope to others who have left.

The Gourock man is using his creative talents to launch a new marketing and design firm called Midas Touch.

Jordan, 30, said: "I am really looking forward to taking this business forward.

"There is not a lot of help for ex-soldiers out there and you come to rely on one another.

"I joined the army when I left school at 17, it seemed a good fit for me and I liked the idea of it.

"A friend signed up and I did as well.

"I stayed for five years and during that time served during the bloodiest time of the conflict in Afghanistan.

"There was a massive loss of life, but you don't think about it at the time.

"Then when I came home I started to get anxious and my family noticed a change in me.

"It was not right any more and I left.

"But then I realised how difficult it was for so many veterans - I know so many who have taken their own lives and there is not a lot of help when you leave."

Jordan, who has a five year old son JJ with partner Hannah, says he hopes his new venture with fellow Scots Guard soldier William Woodburn can help show others the way.

He said: "I met William at Camp Bastion and we have stayed friends ever since.

"It is only other veterans who understand what it is like."

Both former soldiers believe there should be more investment by the Ministry of Defence into helping veterans cope once they leave.

William, who owns Clyde Whisky and has now launched his own brand Vodka 69 - which is selling in local venues The Spinnaker Hotel and The Vault - says that there should be more help for veterans.

William added: "The MoD should definitely have a budget for those who leave the army, there is no support right now.

"The army is like school for grown ups, you are told what to do and when to do it and your day is planned out for you.

"It is a shock when you leave and have to make your own decisions."

William has a flair for commerce, setting up his own scaffolding firm before branching out where opportunities took him and he now owns Clyde Distillery.

In a bid to capitalise on ideas and build his brands he has set up Midas Touch with Jordan and another friend.

He said: "I am a businessman and Jordan has the design skills and we want to use that potential.

"It should be a great partnership as I have ideas and they have the creativity to make them work."

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