Words by Tracy Fisher
The newly established Midlands Veterans Club (MVC) based at Banners Gate Community Hall, a fifteen minute walk from Kingstanding Circle, is reaching out to local Armed Forces veterans in the area who would like to meet like-minded people for ‘banter, laughter and support’.
Adjusting from military to civilian life can be challenging, even years after service many still miss the comradeship and military banter. With an estimated 17,770 veterans living in the Birmingham area, according to the 2021 Census, local veteran clubs are vital support networks.
Founder of the MVC, Walsall born Gary Hall is a former 1st Battalion Staffordshire Regiment soldier and served two tours of Northern Ireland. Having left the Army due to family illness and bereavement, he later served with the Army Reserves attached to 143 Plant Squadron Royal Engineers as a Sapper.
After joining West Midlands Police (WMP) as a Traffic Warden, he later transferred to the Royal Military Police and eventually rejoined WMP as a Constable, with a career spanning almost 24 years.
“The veterans club was something I had wanted to do for a while,” told Gary, “I reached out to two friends who had served in the military and we formed the club.”
The MVC is made up of Army, Royal Navy, and RAF ex-service personnel and at the time of writing has 28 members, including two senior veterans aged 88 and 93 years old. The veterans regularly meet at Banners Gate Community Hall, which Gary helps to run as a voluntary Business Manager and Trustee of Banners Gate Community Association (BGCA).
He said: “We meet once a month at the moment, but this could change and become every two weeks depending on the numbers.
“We are there for all veterans, to just chat or to signpost to professionals for help or advice, to make new friends and share stories and have banter, we would like to give all the support that we can.”
The MVC has recently been successful in gaining some support through funding and small grants.
“We have been granted £200 by Tesco Princess Alice Drive, Sutton Coldfield,” highlighted Gary – thanking community officer Linda Kelly for here help, “for a Remembrance Day wall plaque to place on the outside wall of our community centre.”
MVC also received £450 through the Small Sparks Fund, supported by Luke Weston from Help the Heros, which has enabled the club to pay for room hire and a permanent base until 2027 – with an additional discount from the BGAC.
The club is also looking for new members and wants anyone who might be interested to get in touch. Gary explained: “The Midlands Veterans Club is for all veterans and their families; we would like to hear from those with military backgrounds, whether regular forces or Territorial/Reservist and their immediate families. We would like to hear from anyone who would like to help us raise funds too.”
Gary is also looking to reach veterans who might be in need of more support or housing.
He adds: “Once fully established we want to hit the streets looking for veterans that need help due to homelessness or falling on bad times. We will be there to help them and guide them to the help they need”.
For more on the Midlands Veterans Club visit www.facebook.com/groups/midlandveteransclub or call 07932 174 550 / 07871 770 498
If you are from a community group or an active volunteer anywhere in the Erdington constituency then we want to hear for you. Please email: community@erdingtonlocal.com
This article was first published in the Erdington Local monthly newspaper on 16 October.
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