'We had freedom of speech back then, we haven't now': Veterans praise those who gave their lives for our freedoms during new brunch club

The home has 'Veteran Friendly Status' and ensures armed forces veterans living there benefit from enhanced care and support as part of a scheme that aims to tackle loneliness and isolation and improve health and wellbeing for over 25,000 veterans in care homes across England.

Rachael Addy is the Activities Co-ordinator at Deangate Care Home. She spoke to GB News at the launch of the new veteran brunch club and said: "There's no veteran clubs, really, for care homes in the area or even really for the elderly population in this area. So I was like, okay, let's start one, and so we started the veteran brunch.

"This is our first one today, and it's been so lovely because I think it'll help with their mental health, because I do notice sometimes that they don't like to talk about their experiences.

"They keep it kind of closed up, and obviously we all know what that can do to anybody.

"So hopefully going forward, this will help them open up a little bit, make new friends and just basically get out into the big wide world, but having a safe space to do so.

"The launch of the brunch club comes ahead of the 80th anniversary of VE Day later this year. 2025 marks 80 years since the Second World War ended in Europe on May 8 1945, when the Allies accepted the surrender of Nazi Germany.

For the veterans at the Deangate Care Home veteran brunch, it's vital that everyone marks the upcoming 80th anniversary of VE day.

Michael Moore served in Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo and the Middle East from 1965 to 1982 as part of the Army Maritime Regiment and Air Dispatch Regiment.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

• 'This is part of the problem!' 100-year-old D-Day veteran suspended from the Green Party over trans comments
• WW2 veteran feels 'ashamed to be British' as 99-year-old travels 4,400 miles to urge Starmer to unfreeze her pension
• 'It's very moving' Heartfelt moment WW2 veteran is surprised with a party for his 100th birthday

Speaking to GB News at the veteran brunch at Deangate Care Home, he said: "My parents and grandparents all served in the First World War, and Second World War.

"It's [VE Day 80] bringing back what they did for us and the freedom we've got today. They gave their lives for us, they gave their day, so we can have our tomorrow.

"We had the freedom of speech then, where we haven't now. We should have the freedom of speech and be able to say what we need, not put a ribbon around it."

RAF veteran Maurice Churchouse, 95, joined the RAF as part of national service at just 18 in 1948.

He celebrated his 95th birthday at the veteran brunch and told GB News: "We hope we will not be forgotten. It needs to be will be brought back to life, what happened, what didn't happen, and what should have happened."

Alan Cobourne-Smith, 75, served for nine years in the RAF as an Officer's Mess Steward from 1968 to 1977.

Reflecting on the upcoming 80th VE Day anniversary, he said: "My dad served in the Second World War at the age of 17 and on D-Day he became a prisoner of war. When you're young, you always look for a hero in your life and my hero was my dad, I still miss him today.

"If we'd lost the war and Germany had taken over, what would we be speaking? We could be speaking German, but for those who hose laid down their life.

"The men that fought, they stopped that, and that's why all these gentlemen here are veterans who had done the same thing. It's all about freedom.

"Sheila Johnson, 96, was in the Land Army and performed her national service in Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, for which she was decorated.

She told GB News: "It [VE Day 80] means everything, doesn't it? Bletchley, that's where I was stationed, and I was in the Land Army. When the farmers went to war, we replaced them and did all that work."

You can find out where your local Armed Forces and Veteran Breakfast Club is here.