Breakfast is served for military veterans in Grantown
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Friday saw the launch of a new breakfast club for military veterans in the strath.
Current and former members of the armed forces will now be meeting at the Pagoda centre on the third Friday of each month.
A delighted former soldier, Mark Strachan, told the Strathy that his project has drawn interest from a huge area, not just in Badenoch and Strathspey and not just from the Highland capital of Inverness but even the capital of the land, in Edinburgh.
"It's all about helping combat loneliness," said Mr Strachan, late of the Royal Logistic Corps.
He also served with the military police in his time, which was cut shorter than he would have liked by an explosion in Iraq which cost him the sight of his right eye.
Having been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, he said he understands what many comrades have experienced.
He will now be arranging funding for trips out for groups of veterans, taking in the theatre as well as outdoor venues.
"I'll be arranging anything they might enjoy, just to get them out of the house.
“I think this is going to be really positive for this community and beyond because I’ve had people today from Dufftown, Elgin, across the Highlands and well beyond."
“They’ve all heard about it, they’ve all come up here just to see what it’s all about and this is brilliant."
Nearly 70 showed up on Friday for the inaugural breakfast, he confirmed.
The rallying call has had the blessing of all three services.
The breakfast club is available on the third Friday of each month, with subsidised meals offered for vets on lower incomes.
