Breakfast Clubs for veterans have been around for a few years, but the Breakfast Club in Southampton, to its members is something special. The Club exists with only a loose set of rules (apart from the swear jar, which is very strict), no subscriptions, no committee and no leader and yet the Club is active in both charity and social events. So, how did the Club come to exist? A Breakfast Club formed in Hull and eventually, the idea of veterans getting together for breakfast spread country-wide and now there are even clubs overseas. In December 2014, a Facebook group, ‘Southampton Breakfast Club’ was started. Veterans in the local area, via friends and friends of friends, got to hear about the group and asked to join. The Club has continued to grow and now there are around 200 members of the Facebook group. The inaugural breakfast meeting was held on 3rd January 2015.
The Club was meeting every Saturday at the Snack Shack in Woolston and, as word spread, the numbers attending started to grow. Like most clubs, you get the same die-hards who attend every meeting but those members who can’t attend every week still receive the same welcome as everyone else. Attendance isn’t compulsory and each Saturday will usually see anything between 12 and 20 turn up for breakfast. The highest attendance has been 37.
So, what has the Club been doing?
In 2015
3rd January The inaugural Southampton Breakfast Club meeting.
23rd April Saw the first attempt at a Club social event, to celebrate St George’s Day. The Club met for breakfast in the morning, then headed off to visit a few hostelries in Southampton City centre.
8th May A BBQ with partners, family and children to celebrate VE Day.
27th June Another BBQ for Armed Forces Day
15th August A trip to Sandhurst to watch the Commandants Parade, which was followed by lunch at the Officers Mess in the former Army Staff College.
12th September Saw the Club’s most important person have a landmark birthday – Tracey Gaylor, our chef and owner of the Snack Shack turned 50. This was the perfect excuse for a party!
Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday saw the various members of the Club attend the services of Remembrance and the different services organised by their local Royal British Legion.
On the 16th December, the Club received a call for help from the Retford Breakfast Club. One of their members, an ex-RN Stoker named Derek, had been taken ill whist on a cruise and was rushed into Southampton General Hospital when his cruise ship docked in Southampton. Derek was aged 84 and his 81 year-old wife, Kay had been put into a B&B in one of the ‘not so posh’ parts of Southampton. The cruise company seemed to have abandoned the couple, even their luggage was missing. Colin Gaylor and a couple of other members of the Club put pressure on the cruise company to do more. Derek, in hospital was being well cared for, but Kay was in a strange town, and a few miles from the hospital. The Club made sure Kay was transported to the hospital to see Derek and, on the 18th December, Colin and Tracey opened up their home to Kay, who spent Christmas and the New Year celebrations with them and was made to feel a part of the family. On 26th December the café was closed but breakfast was still available at the Gaylor residence, with 18 club members on parade.
2016
2016 arrived with Kay still staying with Colin and Tracey. Derek was due to be discharged from Hospital on 3rd January so the day before, Colin took Kay back to her own home in Nottingham to prepare it for Derek. The morning of his discharge, Vic and Gavin met Derek at the hospital and took him home to be reunited with his wife.
To show their appreciation for all the help and hospitality they had received whilst unexpectedly in Southampton, Derek and Kay made a very generous donation to the Club, of the equipment required to parade the Club Standard; gauntlets, flagpole, lanyard and harness.
Also in January, one of the club members needed to move home at short notice. Many of the club members helped him move and decorate his home.
In March, the club started to meet on a Thursday morning, to allow more veterans to attend.
Easter 2016 saw the Club collect and deliver 435 Easter eggs, colouring books plus a few other items, to the children in Southampton General Hospital and, as one of our own members was in hospital at the same time, eggs were also delivered to a couple of the adult wards. Easter eggs were also taken to Rose Road Association and Clic Sargent centres.
23rd April St George’s Day breakfast followed by celebration in Southampton.
18th June A large group from the Club travelled to Weymouth to take part in the Armed Forces Day Celebration, and those Club members that were able, marched in the parade. This event also saw the Southampton Breakfast Club Standard proudly paraded for the first time.
7th August A family picnic was held at The Royal Victoria Country Park in Netley, including a guided tour of the War Cemetery.
11th November 18 Club members joined with the few remaining members of the local branch of the Royal Hampshire Regiment Comrades Association, to parade at the Cenotaph in Southampton for the Armistice Day commemoration.
13th November The Club formed a marching contingent and took part in the Remembrance Parade held in Southampton.
24th November BBC Radio Solent broadcast live from the Club and interviewed a number of members.
16th December The Club pulled up a sandbag and came alive with memories and yarns from days gone by in BAOR/RAF(G), with a Bratty and Beer night at Southampton’s Christmas Market.
17th December Breakfast followed by exchanging presents when Secret Santa arrived. This was followed that evening with a well attended and a very much enjoyed Christmas-themed fancy dress party.
21st December Once again, the Club descended on Southampton General Hospital, this time to deliver 400 selection boxes to the children’s wards.
In addition to the above, the Club has been visited twice by the local MP, Royston Smith; the Daily Echo; Southampton City Council Armed Forces Champion and a doctor carrying out research into how Op Banner veterans and their families cope with resulting issues. The café was also used to film a scene for a future movie release with some club members used as extras. The local Army Cadet Force have sent cadets to the Breakfast Club to help them get their ‘Service in the Community’ tick towards the next Duke of Edinburgh’s Award or their next Cadet Star badge.
If the club hear of a veteran in hospital, visits are arranged. If the Club hear of a new street-sleeping veteran, we ensure they are found and help offered. If a Club member is raising money for charity, we all help. If anyone needs lifts, the rest of the Club are willing to help if they can, but no one feels pressured to offer the help.
Why do people join the Club? Some veterans say it gives them the comradeship they lost when they retired from the forces. Some have said it is a life-line that has helped them back from the edge when they were feeling really down. How many knew each other before the club? None. We were all strangers, but with that common bond – we have all served. Some say it is almost like going to a NAAFI break in your new unit. Whatever the reason, the veterans who attend will all say that the Club is one of the best things that has happened to them. There is no such thing as strangers, only friends you have yet to meet.
Breakfast Clubs and what they do, 
Southampton Breakfast Club 