Over the past few years, a variety of reunions, informal gatherings, Facebook groups, breakfast clubs, and other social activities have flourished across social media platforms. Among them are several branches of the Grenadier Guards Association that maintain an active presence on Facebook. Collectively, these digital communities and events are known as the Virtual Grenadiers, as they thrive within the online world.

Some of these meetups are simple, no-frills affairs—just a chance to show up, share a drink, and reconnect with old friends, many of whom haven’t seen or spoken to each other in years.

While many of these groups are run by Grenadiers who may not be formally involved with the Grenadier Guards Association, they play a vital role in keeping the spirit of camaraderie alive. They help maintain connections among former comrades and strengthen the Esprit de Corps that unites us all in pride and loyalty to the greatest regiment in the world—The Grenadier Guards.

This post aims to list details of any such activity (that we are aware of), so that others can easily find links to the information, then take matters forward as they wish.  Alternatively, if you are looking for a breakfast club, or a reunion or just conversation with old friends from your days in the Grenadiers, then head for the website www.grengds.com and find the link for the Virtual Facebook Groups, which may help get you where you want to go!

BREAKFAST CLUBS

  • Folkestone & District Armed Forces  & Veterans Breakfast Club (not exclusively Grenadiers, but several of the members of the Grenadier Guards Association – Kent Branch, plus several of our Friends of the Branch who are veteran servicemen and women, attend their breakfasts)
  • Grenadier Breakfast Club (East Midlands)
  • Suffolk and Essex Grenadier Breakfast (held in Clare). All Grenadier veterans are welcome.  For the ration roll, please let Kev Kitcher (the breakfast organiser) know if you want to join them at the breakfast RV (generally held at 10am on the 2nd Saturday of each month).

REUNIONS

There are several reunions organised by various veteran Grenadiers. These are great fun to attend and occur at various locations around the UK.  Details of them are generally advertised via some of the below Facebook Groups, so join them if you are not already a member of the various groups, else contact Kev Kitcher (the Comms Officer for RHQ) and he may be able to point you in the right direction.

FACEBOOK GROUPS/PAGES

If there are any events, or groups, that you are aware of that are not listed above, then please let us have detail.  You can easily pass detail to us via our Contact Us page.