War Veteran supports the Shoulder to Soldier campaign to raise awareness around fireworks and PTSD

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Gavin Vitler, Linda Fisher, Royston Brett and Andy Garner

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War veteran Royston Brett passed through Rochdale on Wednesday (28 December) as part of his bike ride around Greater Manchester supporting the Shoulder to Soldier campaign to raise awareness around fireworks and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Royston, who served in the 2nd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment between 1988 and 1993 and also suffers from PTSD, began his ride at 9.30am from Leigh Cenotaph, cycling via Bolton to Rochdale Cenotaph before heading towards Salford and the Imperial War Museum.

PTSD is a mental disorder than can develop after a person is exposed to a traumatic event, such as warfare. Sufferers may relive the trauma with vivid flashbacks and intrusive thoughts and images, nightmares, intense distress and also experience physical symptoms, such as pain, trembling, sweating and nausea. It may also be referred to as shell shock, combat stress or battle fatigue.

Royston, from Golborne, said: “I have children, so believe me I am not anti-fireworks; this campaign is about raising awareness.

“I suffer from PTSD and just by wearing this shirt and cycling, I have had a positive response from members of the public. It has started a discussion and people are talking about PTSD which can only be a good thing.

“One lady said she would never have even thought about how fireworks could, if used inappropriately, trigger symptoms such as PTSD and cause flashbacks. Combat PTSD is very complex and I could see several conflicts from all the different ones I’ve been involved in; the first Gulf War, Northern Ireland and Afghanistan.”

He added: “I see very vivid flashbacks every time with an unexpected noise that can also affect me for up to three days, and it also affects my girlfriend and kids.

“It’s the random use of fireworks that we want to highlight, these can cause veterans to suffer, so please don’t let them off in parks, on the streets and at times when it’s not expected.

“We just want people to be considerate of people like me with the disorder when setting them off. A veteran could take his life over PTSD; I’ve known three people who have.”

Royston was greeted outside Rochdale Town Hall by fellow veteran Andy Garner, who served 14th/20th King’s Hussars, and Gavin Vitler, founder of the Rigby’s Guardians bike group and the North West representative for the Lee Rigby Foundation.

Andy, who also served during the first Gulf War, said: “I’m personally not bothered by pyrotechnics and fireworks, but I do support friends and colleagues who are.”

Gavin said: “The campaign has the support of both Rigby’s Guardians and the Lee Rigby Foundation.”

Linda Fisher, who set up Shoulder to Soldier in 2015, said: “This campaign is about raising awareness about the negative impact that the indiscriminate use of fireworks can have on our armed forces personnel and their families.

“I really appreciate Royston’s support for this worthwhile cause in the build-up to the New Years celebrations and hope that this inspires others to be responsible in their use of fireworks.”

Linda has written to the Armed Forces Minister and has specifically requested that the sellers code for fireworks is amended to reference PTSD and the armed forces.

The campaign has also got the support of large supermarkets selling fireworks and other distributors with a new poster and leaflet. These are to being handed out with sales of fireworks and posters displayed.

The greater the awareness and understanding of PTSD, the better the help and support for those with PTSD and their immediate families.