Kinross Veteran Honoured for 25 Years of Dedicated Service with Armed Forces Charity
A resident of Kinross and former Lieutenant Colonel has been celebrated for an impressive 25 years of voluntary work with SSAFA, the esteemed Armed Forces charity. Andy Middlemiss, aged 77, embarked on his volunteering journey the very day he retired from the Army in 2000, following a distinguished military career spanning over three decades.
A Quarter-Century of Commitment
Throughout his 25 years with SSAFA, Andy has undertaken multiple vital roles. Initially, he served as a caseworker, providing crucial support to hundreds of military community members facing social, financial, and health-related difficulties. He later advanced to become the SSAFA Perth and Kinross Branch Chairman, a position he has held twice, accumulating a total of 14 years in leadership.
His contributions have been widely recognised. In 2018, he was part of the SSAFA Perth and Kinross team that received the prestigious Queens Award for Voluntary Service. Additionally, in 2021, Andy was personally awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in acknowledgment of his relentless voluntary efforts with Forces charities across Scotland.
Ongoing Volunteer Efforts and Family Legacy
Currently, Andy focuses on community engagement, enhancing branch connections, and organising local outreach events. He also supports veterans within the criminal justice system, a role for which he earned a SSAFA Regional Recognition Award in 2023.
Andy's deep-rooted connection to the military is a family tradition. As a fourth-generation soldier, he completed 33 years of service with the King’s Own Scottish Borderers. His grandfather served as a doctor with the Royal Army Medical Corps at Gallipoli, his father was a regular soldier who saw action at Dunkirk, El Alamein, and on D-Day, and his eldest son Peter is a Colonel in the Scots Guards with deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Personal Reflections and Official Recognition
Andy shared his thoughts on his volunteering experience: “I joined SSAFA the day I left the Army to give something back and to stay in touch with people I have close affinity to. I love being a SSAFA volunteer – there have been many ups and only a few downs to it. I can't believe 25 years volunteering have gone by in such a flash. Roll on the next 25!”
The Long Service Award was presented to Andy at SSAFA’s biennial Scotland Volunteer Conference in Glasgow, which brought together more than 100 volunteers and staff members. Walter Gallacher, SSAFA’s Scotland regional chair and convenor of the Scottish Resource Committee, commented: “Andy’s steadfast commitment and support for serving personnel, veterans, and their families is what SSAFA is all about, and it’s a privilege to see him presented with a Long Service Award. It’s thanks to people like Andy that SSAFA can succeed in its mission to ensure our Armed Forces community never battle alone, and I wholeheartedly thank and congratulate him on his 25-year volunteer milestone.”
SSAFA volunteers have been assisting the Armed Forces community—including regulars, reserves, serving or retired personnel, and their families—since 1885. For those interested in volunteering, fundraising, or seeking support, further information is available through the SSAFA website.
