Ex-military men set up support network in Market Rasen

A pair of charitable ex-serviceman from Market Rasen have set up a veterans' breakfast club aimed at helping those in need - and others who just want some '˜forces camaraderie'.
By The Newsroom
Published 30th Mar 2016, 20:44 BST
Updated 30th Mar 2016, 20:51 BST

Former soldiers Michael Kenning and Martin Hare came up with the idea after noticing there were a lot of ex-military personnel at the Remembrance Day parade in Market Rasen last 
November.

The pair got to work and have now formed Market Rasen Veterans’ Breakfast Club.

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Michael, a retired Royal Corps of Signals Warrant Officer 1, said: “The aim of the club is for ex-service personnel to come along and have a bit of banter and chat, that sense of camaraderie that they used to have on a daily basis.

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“And we can identify those who are in need of a bit of 
help.

“Soldiers won’t ask for help because they’ve been told for so long to be 
independent.

“But if help is offered they’ll take it.”

Michael, who served in the Army between 1990 and 2012, said he and Martin will be able to point veterans towards numerous charities that can offer help and support with various issues.

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And Michael said he and Martin are both members of the Royal British Legion but that the group was not ‘Legion linked’.

The club will meet at Market Rasen Social Club in Serpentine Street every second Saturday from 9.30am until 11.30am.

Michael said: “When I was at the Remembrance Day parade in Market Rasen I noticed there were an awful lot of ex-servicemen there, lots of people wearing veterans’ badges.

“You never see them any other time - where are they all?

“I thought ‘we could start something really 
good’.

“We thought ‘let’s do it, let’s crack on’.”

And Michael and Martin have big plans for the breakfast club with aspirations to hold annual Christmas and summer 
balls.

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The club will be launched on Saturday, April 9 - and it is hoped town mayor John Matthews will be there to mark the 
occasion.

Martin was keen to stress that veterans from throughout Lincolnshire are all welcome - the group is not just for people who live in Market 
Rasen.

“Anyone from Louth, Horncastle, Caistor, Grantham - and anywhere else is welcome to come along,” said Michael.

All veterans will be served a full English breakfast, made from locally-sourced products.

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For more information about Market Rasen Veterans’ Breakfast Club call Michael Kenning on 07498 577
665.

Charities that can help former military personnel include Help for Heroes and Blind Veterans UK.

Related topics:SoldiersJohn Matthews