Three Veterans from Fleetwood become friends thanks to Age UK Lancashire’s ‘Connecting Veterans in Lancashire’ project.

David McManus, David Brown and Joe Baron now meet on a weekly basis for a coffee and a catch up to share their stories and enjoy each other’s company.

Age UK Lancashire’s Connecting Older Veterans to their Local Communities’ project was launched in January 2023 to support vulnerable and isolated veterans in the county. Our Outreach workers support veterans and introduce them to organisations and opportunities across Lancashire and reduce any barriers such as transport or confidence which may prevent them from socialising or meeting with others. To date, we have supported over 110 veterans in Lancashire.

This friendship started when David McManus, 76, who lives in Fleetwood reached out to Age UK Lancashire for support on claiming his veteran's badge having served 13 years’ in the army. Whilst supporting him with his veteran’s badge, Jaqui learnt that David attended the Veterans Breakfast Club at Farmer Parr’s each month.

By coincidence the following month, David Brown, a 73-year-old Veteran who also lives in Fleetwood was referred to Jacqui for support. David Brown completed 8 years’ Service in the Army and following a chat with Jaqui, she suggested him visiting the same breakfast club as David McManus and passed on his details so they could go together. Although the 2 unfortunately didn’t make it to Farmer Parrs, they met up several times after this & quickly became good friends. David Brown contacted Jaqui to let her know that he and David were so grateful to have been introduced to each other and that they would welcome other local veterans into their friendship group.

Soon after, Jaqui was referred to Joe Baron, a 93-year-old Veteran from Fleetwood who served in the RAF for 3 years. Joe decided that Breakfast Clubs weren’t quite for him so Jaqui passed on his details to David Brown to arrange a meeting for the 3 of them. Ever since this meeting they have met regularly for coffee.  Joe’s Daughter, Jane, has been so relived on her dad’s new friendships saying that is has ’given him ‘a new lease of life’ and has now become his social secretary.

Joe said:

“It’s been wonderful to have been introduced to both Davids through Jaqui Collins from Age UK Lancashire. I’ve been able to meet and chat about our shared memories of the forces and I look forward to it every week.”

The three soon became a four as Jaqui told David Brown about Eunice Makin who Age UK Lancashire recently supported following her hip surgery (read her full story here). Eunice is a 94-year-old Veteran completing 10 years’ Service in the RAF. Eunice is currently in a Care Home in Fleetwood but that didn’t stop David Brown & his Wife from visiting and soon after arranged for her to join them at the next coffee outing.

David Brown has been delighted with is new friendships and to say thank you he told Jaqui that he makes bird feeders out of cups, saucers, mugs and jugs which he has since been donated to our Shop in Carnforth which has helped us to deliver our vital services to older people throughout Lancashire.

Jaqui said:

“This is a perfect example of what the Project is all about – connecting older veterans with their communities. They each felt lonely and isolated but now meet up every week to share their stories. As David Brown told Eunice on their first Meeting, ‘We are your Family’ and I absolutely love the impact this project has.

Personally, I feel really privileged to have helped in setting this friendship group up and connecting these veterans who may have never met otherwise.”