Suffolk Veterans Call for Dedicated Family Day to Recognise the Unsung Heroes
Former England football captain Terry Butcher and Royal Anglian Regiment veteran Nigel Seaman are calling for a new national day
Former England football captain Terry Butcher and Royal Anglian Regiment veteran Nigel Seaman are calling for a new national day to honour the families of service personnel, saying those closest to veterans are too often “overlooked and forgotten.”
Speaking at The Bigger Breakfast event in Suffolk, hosted by Combat2Coffee, the pair made an emotional plea for Armed Forces Week to include an official Family Day, a moment to recognise the often-invisible role families play in supporting those who serve.
“We don’t want anyone else to go through that”
For Terry Butcher, the campaign is deeply personal. His son Christopher, a captain in the Royal Artillery, died by suicide at the age of 35 after struggling with severe PTSD. The footballing legend says the lack of family support at the time left them isolated.
“It was a horrible experience in many ways,” he said. “Chris locked himself away. His life was turned around completely. There was no one we could turn to. No charities helped us. Help for Heroes didn’t want him because his condition was ‘too severe.’ We were his only option. My wife Rita and I became his carers.”
He added:
“You don’t forget that. You live it every day. It was like Groundhog Day. Chris was self-medicating with alcohol. There were times I had to buy vodka for him just so he could knock himself out and escape the demons for a few hours.”
Now, Terry channels his pain into purpose:
“I’m doing this for my son. And for all the other families who might be suffering in silence. The veteran is a priority, but the family needs to be a priority too. Especially the children.”
“Military families are the invisible support system”
Nigel Seaman, who founded Combat2Coffee after his own mental health crisis, says families play a vital role but rarely receive proper recognition.
“People don’t understand us. They think if a veteran gets animated in conversation, they’re angry. They’re not, they’re anxious. They’re scared. And that impacts families in huge ways.”
He’s seen it firsthand with his own children:
“They didn’t understand why I was acting differently. I had to sit them down and say, ‘I’ve got PTSD. It’s not you. I may struggle, but I’m going to do everything I can to get better.’ That was a turning point for us.”
Nigel believes the answer is simple:
“We need a dedicated day. It doesn’t have to cost anything, just something like a 10 am brew and a chat across the country, where families are seen and heard.”
He adds:
“Military families hold everything together while their loved ones are on tour. They raise the kids, manage the home, and live with the emotional aftermath when things go wrong. Why wouldn’t we recognise them?”
More than a brew
Events like The Bigger Breakfast are helping open up conversations and bring hope. Hundreds attended this week’s event in Suffolk, and Minister for Veterans and People, Alistair Carns, made a visit to show support.
“This could be the start of something really big,” Terry said. “We’re not trying to go national yet, but who knows where this could lead? What matters is we’re walking a bit quicker now.”
Nigel adds:
“It’s about starting something meaningful. If it brings people together, gets them talking, gets them help, that’s the goal.”
The message from both men is clear: behind every veteran is a family carrying just as much weight. And now, they’re calling for the nation to carry it with them, at least for one day a year.