22 Sep 2026
Fifty years since he signed up at the Army Careers Information Office in Chequer Street, a St Albans ex-serviceman is preparing to launch a new breakfast club for former members of the armed forces.
Graham Card has been feeling let down by the lack of a vets’ community in St Albans since the closure of the Royal British Legion HQ in Verulam Road back in 2017.
He’s now taking matters into his own hands and is launching Stand By Your Beds: a regular meet up for those who took The Queen’s Shilling.
“I just thought that we’re actually quite good at sorting our own problems out and networking. Our lives in the forces are very little different to your lives in Civvy Street, except that our highs are much higher and our lows are much lower, and we go where we’re told, when we’re told, and get on with it.
“It’s not about being political, it’s about connecting people who have problems – maybe they’re struggling in the garden, can’t get out of the house, can’t get to appointments, that kind of stuff – and provide a hub that networks people in the same way the Legion was a rallying point.“In our world you’re only as strong as the weakest link, and if someone’s down for whatever reason, mental, physical, whatever, you get them back on their feet. You don’t leave people behind.”
Graham served with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and then the Royal Transport Corps for 17 years, spending seven of those in Northern Ireland.
The new club will meet at The Water End Barn on the second Saturday of every month, starting on October 10, a location he decided upon for a reason.
“Every bus from every region around St Albans goes to St Peter’s Street. It doesn’t matter where you live, you can hop on the bus, get off in St Peter’s Street, and you’re there. It doesn’t matter how immobile you are.
In St Albans district alone there are 3,000 ex-servicemen, and Graham has spent the past few weeks putting up posters at key locations and launching a Facebook page to promote the event.
These were designed by local creative artist Jo Emery, and he is also keen to stress that nothing would have been possible withpit the support of SADC councillor Lynn Cunningham.
“I’ll even buy everyone breakfast,” he said, “because it doesn’t work without the support of local veterans. I want people to come. I don’t want to chair it or anything, I just want to meet people.”
