Gosport Veterans’ Cafe Celebrates First Birthday

Gosport Veterans’ Cafe Celebrates First Birthday

Off By Ed Hanna

Gosport High Street’s veterans’ café was a swirl of skirts and Victory rolled hair earlier this month in a vintage themed commemoration of a successful first year. Guests enjoyed a birthday afternoon of live music and delicious homemade fare while raising money for veterans.

Sharpe’s café on the High Street is one of several across the UK run by FirstLight Trust, a charity helping former members of the armed forces and emergency services adjust to civilian life. It was designed to be a hub with veterans and the community at its heart, serving tasty cakes and quality coffee with a smile.

“We’ve been bowled over by the welcome we’ve received in Gosport,” says Dorinda Wolfe Murray of FirstLight Trust.

“As well as our regular customers, businesses such as Asda, Tesco, Waitrose, Santander and the NatWest Bank at Fareham have donated money and baking goods. In the autumn people even brought in blackberries and windfall plums to help us make jam to raise funds.”

In the past year the café has celebrated Gosport Collectors Week in May and Armed Forces Day in June. They joined in with a stand at the Hapi Festival, helped Brune Park School out with mess tins for its 1940s-themed prom and hosted a talk about the Battle of the Somme in National Heritage Week.

“We hope to see even more veterans and civilians in 2018,” adds Dorinda. “Every Wednesday we offer a Free Cake and Catch Up session for veterans and are currently encouraging ex-RAF to contribute memories to our Community Board for the service’s centenary. We’re open Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm. Guilt-free calories are our speciality, so please pop by!”