Julie came from a military family with her father, uncle and grandfather all having served. Julie and Melvin met in their 40s, both having had previous marriages and families. Melvin had retired from the army by then and rarely talks about it but Julie knows he suffered a back injury during Desert Storm One. Melvin was also in a military band which took him all over the world but also meant standing for hours in all weathers. Over the years, Melvin has had terrible problems with his back but now his knees are causing problems too. Help for Heroes have helped Melvin find physiotherapy while the Band of Brothers group has provided a lifeline through advice and camaraderie. Julie has joined Band of Sisters and finds herself being one of the oldest in the group and able to share her life experiences. She enjoys the respite weekends and has also taken part in a number of courses. She admires the younger generation and what they are going through and both she and Melvin volunteer as much as they can to give back to the charity, and people, that have helped them so much.

Content Warning This interview contains discussions of suicide, PTSD, and substance abuse, which some viewers may find distressing. If you are affected by these topics, please consider seeking support from a trusted person or organisation.   Lorna Hunter, the devoted wife of veteran Thomas Hunter, explains their shared experiences of military service, struggles with PTSD, and their journey to finding support and healing.  Tom served 22 years in the Army, enlisting at 17 and starting in 16 Air Defence, before transferring to 50 Missile in the Royal Artillery due to his boxing skills (which can be found on YouTube!). He later joined the Royal Logistics Corps in the Territorial Army while working as a postman for 21 years. His service took him across Germany and on tour in the Falklands before his 2003 deployment to Iraq, where he developed PTSD. Years of boxing also led to Dementia Pugilistica.  For Lorna, military life brought isolation, especially after 2003. Tom’s struggles after Iraq also proved difficult; diagnosed with PTSD as an army medic, he was denied military support as a reservist. As his mental health declined, job loss and isolation took their toll. Lorna fought tirelessly for answers, and after years of inconclusive treatments, Tom was finally diagnosed with dementia. Help came through Phoenix House, a veteran recovery centre. In the Band of Brothers, Tom rediscovered his love for sports, competing in the Warrior Games and carrying the GB team’s torch. Lorna, too, found solace in the Band of Sisters. She now urges others: “Make the call-Pheonix House saved my husband’s life.”