8 March 2012 Wallace McKie - Combat Stress

It was almost standing room only at last week's meeting at the Westlands Hotel.

President Rod Jones and 31 members welcomed Auchterarder Rotary President Carol Coutts and 9 other members on their annual visit. We were also delighted to welcome a far travelled visitor from the Rotary Club of Kings Lynn, President Andy Kerr, who was returning to visit Dunblane having been at the Queen Victoria School in the 1970's.

Our speaker for the evening was Wallace McKie, a former serving officer, and now a volunteer working for Combat Stress.

With such a large gathering of old and new friends, there was a real buzz of conversation during the meal. However, as soon as Wallace began his talk, and right through until the last question and answer, the room was absolutely quiet as we were told about some of the issues facing former serving personnel. Wallace gave a brief history of the origins of Combat Stress, set up in 1919 (mainly by women) to help the thousands of returning troops and sailors suffering from what was then called shell shock. The treatment at the time was primitive and barbaric, with little or no understanding of the emotional or psychological problems the men faced.

Today, Combat Stress has three short stay specialist centres and helps over 4,000 personnel rebuild their lives. They also have a 24 hour helpline and a community outreach service. They offer help which is not routinely available on the NHS or elsewhere. Full details are on their website: www.combatstress.org.uk

Nick Rawlings gave a very thoughtful vote of thanks to Wallace for a most moving and informative talk.