Every November, former infantryman Nigel Seaman polishes his medals and begins his walk to Christchurch Park in Ipswich for the annual Armistice Day service. The walk is a time to reflect and think about his own journey
The year was 1992 when a fresh-faced Nigel followed his dreams of joining the army. Nigel was a self-confessed ‘typical Chantry boy’ who looked at the chance to represent his country as an opportunity for adventure.
Until then, the closest taste he’d had of adventure was hanging around ‘top shops’ and ‘bottom shops’ – or playing football at Gippeswyk Park until his mum called him home for tea from across the street. For someone whose history teacher had described as an ‘all-round entertainer’, Nigel knew he had so much more to give to the wider world.
Nigel would later be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after experiencing a mental health crisis – and his meetings with fellow veterans inspired him to launch his social enterprise Combat2Coffee.
‘There are few things more important than remembrance,’ Nigel says as he sips his coffee. Every cup he sells helps fund his new work supporting the armed forces community and their families with their mental health.
‘For veterans like me, remembrance is a feature of daily life – whether that is paying homage to the heroes who gave their lives for our country or reflecting on our own lived experiences. But remembrance is something that should be with all of us, always. The lives we are privileged to enjoy today come thanks to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.’
The signs of just how much remembrance means to Nigel are not hard to see. Nods to remembrance feature throughout Combat2Coffee products, while his tattoo of a Tommy soldier is a permanent reminder of its importance.
Starting in 2022, the scheme encourages serving soldiers and veterans to wear their medals to football matches. The premise is simple – to show football fans how so many among them in the stands have devoted their lives to their country. Last year’s event saw 100 veterans honoured with free tickets to watch Ipswich Town, who also played a rendition of the Last Post by an 86-year-old veteran in the Greyhound pub.
Nigel adds: ‘There are so many people in our community that people simply don’t know have served their country. For football fans, this could be the person you’ve sat next to for years. Seeing that person wear their medals sparks conversation and raises awareness. For many of us veterans, having your service recognised by others can mean the world. Witnessing a sea of veterans at Portman Road proudly displaying their medals really is an awe-inspiring sight.’
Nigel and his team are continuing to ramp up their operations this year. While remembrance will always mean the world to him, he knows there is more that can be done to remind people of its importance. That’s why he has teamed up with Woodforde’s Brewery and Combat2Coffee’s patron, former England and Ipswich captain Terry Butcher, to launch a limited number of remembrance-themed beer.
The bottles will be sold via a ‘Play it Forward’ campaign aimed to fund the placements of new outreach workers in areas with a high demand for veteran support. Just £20 can fund 12 monthly coffee and chat sessions for a veteran in need.
‘Terry has been brilliant to us,’ Nigel says. ‘His own experiences in losing his son Christopher, who served in the Royal Artillery, mean he understands all too well the importance of what we are trying to achieve. He’s become a regular feature of our Medals2Matches events, and it means so much for veterans to see him there and showing support.
‘Christopher’s legacy lives on in the work he is now doing to raise awareness of veterans’ mental health and the importance of remembrance. Christopher, like all who have fallen, will never be forgotten.’
With every year that passes, it feels like Nigel’s passion for remembrance continues to grow. That, sadly, comes in part because of the veterans his community have lost due to their struggles with mental ill health.
‘We can never forget the sacrifices those before us have made nor the lives that have sadly been cut short,’ he says. ‘But it is important that remembrance isn’t exclusive to November. It isn’t just about wearing a poppy for a month or taking part in a silence – although these are both incredibly important.
‘The next time you pass a statue or memorial, I would encourage you to stop and think about the people whose heroic actions made today possible. Likewise, if you know a veteran, thank them for their service. Receiving the recognition they so richly deserve can be the morale boost that makes a lasting difference to their wellbeing.’
Members of the armed forces and their families can find out more about the support services available to them by visiting combat2coffee.co.uk.
