A SPECIAL lunch has served up a fundraising treat for a recovery centre for veterans in Colchester.

Colchester Officers’ Club held a fundraising lunch, which was led by club members Sonia Lewis and Gill Bober.

The event was held at the club in Londinium Road, to raise money for the Chavasse VC House in Colchester.

The centre, which is run by Help for Heroes, offers support for wounded, injured and sick service personnel, veterans and their families.

The fundraising lunch raised a total of £1,520 and a cheque was presented to the commanding officer at the recovery centre Major Colin Peall and second-in-command of the centre Captain Si Mander.

The cheque was handed over by the Mayor and Mayoress of Colchester, Peter and Anne Chillingworth.

Garrison commander Lt Col Steve Caldwell and supporters, including Angus Allan of Indulgence Patisserie, were also in attendance.

The group was given a tour of the centre and the Hope on the Horizon gardens.

David Casey, director of the Colchester Officers’ Club, said: “The club has been military affiliated for many years and we thought for the centenary year we would raise money for a military charity.

“The club committee is a volunteer team and they put the lunch together. There was about 120 people there.

“The mayor and mayoress attended as well as the garrison commander and Essex county councillor Kevin Bentley, who was the Master of Ceremonies as we had a raffle and auction to raise funds.”

Mr Casey said it was a fantastic place and a worthy cause. He said: “It’s a stupendous service for getting soldiers back into the forces fit and well, or back into civilian life. They do wondrous jobs and the facilities there are second to none.”

The centre has been designed to offer the best recovery atmosphere, with the Hope on the Horizon garden created thanks to a £100,000 fundraising appeal by the Gazette.