A GROUP of currently- and ex-serving armed forces personnel in Basingstoke are having a get together to raise money for charity.

The Hampshire Armed Forces Breakfast Club is raising money in memory of the late military veteran and fundraiser Harry Billinge MBE.

The group meets on the first Saturday of every month for breakfast and offers a place for both currently- and ex-serving armed forces personnel to socialise and chat.

These informal gatherings started 10 years ago and have regularly occurred across Hampshire ever since, with the members using these meetings as a way to raise money for various causes.

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John Mclean, an ex-Royal Engineer and member of the Basingstoke arm of the HAFBC, said: “We call it ‘Brekkie and Banter’.

“You meet up for a bit of breakfast, we pay £10 each, and then 25 per cent of that goes to a chosen charity of the month.

“It’s just a way to support each other and make a little bit of money for charity.”

Previous charities the group has donated to include Macmillan Cancer Support and Cancer Research UK, as well as The Armed Forces Charity and several local hospices.

But the meetings are not just a way for the members to raise money of charitable cause; they also provide a safe space for veterans to meet and check on each other.

Dan Newbold, a Falkland’s veteran who has attended HAFBC meetings since they began 10 years ago, said: “It does a few things; it enables people to meet and speak to people in an environment they are used to over the course of a lot of years, and, secondly, it allows people to check in with their comrades.

“Basically, making sure they are okay, making sure they are not having any difficulties or suffering from PTSD or going through a bad phase.”

The next meeting of the Armed Forces Breakfast Club will take place on 7th May.

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While the Basingstoke chapter usually meets at The Soldiers Return pub in Oakridge, their next meeting will instead be hosted by Dan at his home in Basingstoke.

This meeting will act as a fundraiser in memory of military veteran Harry Billinge MBE, who passed away 5th April 2022 at the age of 96.

The meeting will feature a raffle, and all the money raised and donated by the HAFBC members will go towards the Normandy Trust.

A World War Two and D-Day veteran, Harry raised money for various armed forces charities, including raising over £50,000 for the Normandy Memorial Trust. He was awarded an MBE in March 2020.

Dan said: “Harry was a fantastic guy; you couldn’t meet a nice, kinder guy than Harry.”

“We’ve had many charities we’ve supported; hospices, cancer support, and this time we want to do a fitting tribute to Harry Billinge.”

The club welcomes veterans regardless of the length of their service or the branch they were part of.

When asked how new members join, John said: “It’s usually recommendation, though we’ve got a Facebook page.

“There’s some people out there who don’t know groups like that are available, if they’re perhaps a bit lonely, depressed, PTSD.

“We can hopefully offer a shoulder.”

If you are either a currently serving or ex-serving member of the armed forces and would like to know more, you can find out more information about the Hampshire Armed Forces Breakfast Club on their Facebook Page.

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