Veterans breakfast club is first of its kind in Inverclyde

The club is the first of its kind in the district, and is open to all armed forces veterans.

Gordon Sinclair, who set up the club, said it was much need in the area, considering the number of veterans living in Inverclyde - around 2,000, according to the latest council figures.

Gordon, 56, who lives in Wemyss Bay, said: "The closest clubs we had were in Paisley and Largs, but there was nothing in Inverclyde.

"So we had our first meeting last Saturday, and it was very well attended. We had around 16 people.

"Veterans have a different mindset from the general public. It's an opportunity to meet with like-minded people and chat.

"It could be about welfare issues. It's a place for veterans to talk and feel welcome.

"It's run by veterans, for veterans. You just come along, buy your breakfast, and have some banter.

"We had people from the navy, different regiments of the army, we had an RAF nurse, and some wives came along."

Gordon, who was raised in Greenock and attended Greenock Academy, served in the RAF for 28 years, from 1985 to 2013 and has seen action all over the world.

He said: "In 2013 I decided that that would be my last tour. I had a young family, and I needed a new career choice. "

Gordon now runs his own pest control business, and is also a Scout leader, but says he enjoyed every minute of his military career.

He said: "It's been good and bad. We're all volunteers, we chose to join the services.

"I've served in Kuwait, Northern Ireland and two tours of Afghanistan. We all volunteer for a bit of adventure. I really enjoyed my time in the services.

Gordon Sinclair set up the new club with help from local councillor Graeme Brooks. (Image: Alex Craig)

"I'm a Scout leader in my spare time and it came up in conversation that four of the leaders were in the services."

The new Inverclyde service is part of the nationwide Armed Forces Breakfast Club initiative.

Gordon paid tribute to Councillor Graeme Brooks, Inverclyde's veterans champion, for his support after raising the idea with him at the area's recent Armed Forces Day parade.

Councillor Brooks came along to the group's first meeting, along with Colonel Peter McCarthy, the Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire.

There are other groups for former service personnel in Inverclyde, but Gordon said he felt there was an need for something different in the area.

He said: "There was a need for a breakfast club. We have an RAF Club, Navy Club, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders use the Navy Club and there is the Veterans Peer Group.

"This is about tying the resources together."

In addition, Gordon says, the new club can play a vital role in ensuring that anyone from the veterans community who is struggling after leaving the armed services can be referred to the most appropriate organisations for help.

He said: "If people are suffering PSTD, we can point them in the direction of Combat Stress. If you are in that group, you recognise it in other people, this gives people a safe place to talk about things."

The Armed Forces Veterans Services Club meets on the first Saturday of every month at The James Watt pub from 9-11am.