Royal Star & Garter has hosted a Battle of Britain lunch event for residents at its Solihull Home.

The three-course meal was attended by officers from the Army and RAF, and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers (SNCOs) from the Defence School of Healthcare Education at Birmingham City University. Military Student Nurses from both the Princess Mary’s Royal Air Force Nursing Service and the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps also attended the event, which took place on Tuesday 16 August. The guest of honour was Lieutenant Colonel Fernando, Commanding Officer of the Defence School of Health Care Education.

The Battle of Britain Dining In evening is one of the key dates in the RAF calendar, and is marked at bases throughout the country. It is a celebration of the Royal Air Force’s history and also commemorates the Battle of Britain, which took place in the skies over this country in 1940.

Royal Star & Garter is a charity which provides loving, compassionate care to veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia. It also has Homes in Surbiton and High Wycombe.

The event was open to all residents at the Home. Guests and staff dressed in black-tie or uniform, and residents were also given the option to do the same.

The Home was decorated in the red, white and blue colours of the RAF. Residents and guests were entertained by the Boogaloo Girls singers, and enjoyed a champagne and Bucks Fizz reception. A re-enactment historian was also present with WWII clothing and artillery from both World Wars.

Student nurses helped the Home’s catering staff serve lunch, which concluded with the traditional loyal toast with port.

Home Manager Jamie Stubbs, himself an RAF veteran, said: “It was amazing to capture the essence of this important RAF tradition at our Home. To many of our veteran residents, maintaining a link to the military is hugely important in supporting their sense of personal history, self-esteem and wellbeing. I’d also like to thank all our guests for making this such a special and memorable afternoon for the residents and staff, especially the student nurses who volunteered to help serve lunch.”

‘I really enjoyed it’

Peter, an RAF veteran and resident at Royal Star & Garter in Solihull, said: “It was a very special afternoon, I really enjoyed it. It was great to have lunch with military personnel, who looked very smart in their uniforms. I hope we have more of these military events in the future.”

The lunch at Royal Star & Garter took place ahead of Battle of Britain Day, on 15 September.

For more information about Royal Star & Garter in Solihull go to www.starandgarter.org/solihull