Veterans hold round-the-clock guard of honour

Left to right: Veterans Arthur Healy, Ian Nottage and Stuart Mendelson helped organise the vigil in Stevenage's Old Town

Military veterans maintained a round-the-clock guard of honour at a war memorial to mark Remembrance Sunday.

The guard of honour, organised by the Stevenage-based veterans' support group The Muster Point, began at the memorial in Stevenage Old Town on Thursday morning and continued until early Sunday morning.

Co-founder of the group, Stuart Mendelson, said it gave veterans "a chance to come together and remember our brothers and sisters who have fallen or are still struggling".

"For a lot of us, remembrance is every day, not just this period," he added.

Former soldier Stuart Mendelson lost an eye in an explosion in Afghanistan

Mr Mendelson, 42, served in the Army and lost his right eye in an IED (improvised explosive device) blast in Afghanistan in 2009.

"I left the forces with a lot of anger, resentment and unrecognised trauma," he said.

He became addicted to drugs and alcohol, but after attending a specialist rehabilitation centre he has been clean and sober for more than two years.

He founded The Muster Point with fellow veteran Steve Black, to create an opportunity for ex-servicemen and women to meet.

"What drives me is that no veteran should suffer what I suffered," Mr Mendelson added.

The guard of honour in Stevenage Old Town was maintained round-the-clock for three days

The group hosts a weekly breakfast, at which Mr Mendelson said veterans build confidence and could be signposted towards help with issues such as employment, housing and mental health services.

Member Arthur Healy, 85, who had been at the guard of honour overnight, said being among fellow veterans made him feel 50 years younger.

Ian Nottage, 76, also said being among other members was the closest he had felt to being back in the army.

"The camaraderie is brilliant," he said. "All the lads feel the same."