Gulf support group relaunched

Gulf support group relaunched

Some of the relatives involved

A support group for families with relatives serving in the Gulf has been reformed in Swansea after more than a decade.

Mums, dads, wives and girlfriends attended a meeting on Thursday when it was decided to reform the Sue Thomas Gulf Support Group.

Their mission is to support one and another while their loved ones are away and to raise funds to pack and send comfort parcels to British troops.

Mrs Thomas established the group in 1991 when her son was involved in the original conflict.

Sue Thomas who set up the original group

She famously persuaded HP to send 36,000 bottles of brown sauce to the Gulf when soldiers complained it was one of the home comforts they missed the most.

She has offered to provide all the help she can, but will not serve on the committee which is made of fresh faces of people with serving relatives this time around.

Mrs Thomas said: "I will advise them and turn up at the meetings but I'm just going to keep in the background."

Happiness and friendship

A directory of members is being formed so they can comfort each other.

"It's just nice to know that there is someone on the end of the telephone," added Mrs Thomas.

"The boys and the girls out there look after each other and so should we.

"The original group brought a lot of happiness and a lot of friendships."

The group will organise raffles and events to raise money to send home comforts to the troops and will also be approaching local supermarkets to try and get donations.

Anti-war protests

"They need their home comforts - they need their pot noodles and their packets of crisps," said Mrs Thomas.

"They are out there fighting for us so why should they not have these little things?"

Relatives from Neath, Morriston, Gorseinon and Skewen were among the 30 or so who attended the meeting.

Some spoke of their annoyance at anti-war protests while the troops were in combat.

Glenda Watkin was elected chairwoman

Glenda Watkin of Rhos, near Pontardawe, was elected as chairwoman of the group.

She has a 19-year-old son serving with the forces.

"I have sent a comfort box to my son but I am concerned about the boys and girls with no families to send them boxes.

"I feel I'm doing something to help back at home."

The next meeting of the group will take place at 1900GMT at the Plough Inn on Clais Road in Morriston on 3 April.