Armed Forces and Veterans Network
APSE is pleased to announce its new Armed Forces and Veterans Network. This new network will support Councillors and Officers who hold responsibility for ensuring support to Veterans and Armed Forces in their locality, with guest speakers from dedicated organisations including the Ministry of Defence and specialist topics including housing, employment and skills. This network is a service to all APSE member councils, and we would especially encourage councillors with responsibility for veterans and armed forces to sign up to receive invitations and updates from the network.
APSE's lead advisor for this network is Debbie Johns . The chair is Cllr Archie Dryburgh MBE, Dumfries and Galloway Council.
The network chair is Cllr Archie Dryburgh MBE, Dumfries and Galloway Council.
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Cllr Archie Dryburgh has been the Armed Forces Champion for Dumfries and Galloway Council since 2009. He received the LGIU Councillor of the Year for Special Contribution to the Armed Forces from Local Authorities in 2018. He received his MBE for services to Local Authority and the Armed Forces in the Queen's New Year's Honours list in 2019. In 2024, he was awarded Role Model of the Year at the Scottish Veterans Awards. A former Gordon Highlander, Lowland Scotland Territorial Army Soldier, and Army Cadet Force Instructor, he has dealt with many veterans' issues over the past 16 years in his councillor role, including establishing an Armed Forces Housing policy in partnership with Housing Associations in 2011. Archie has been influential in supporting policies that the Scottish Government have put in place. Graeme Dey MSP, Minister for Veterans, once said about him in the annual report to Scottish Parliament: "he is a force for good regarding veterans' issues." Archie is the Area Secretary for Glasgow Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway Legion Scotland. In his role at the Annan branch, he covers multiple roles including Secretary, Treasurer, Welfare and PR as well as being Vice Chair for Southwest Scotland RnR, a charity that provides training, medical, and CPC for ex-service personnel to obtain HGV licences. Archie continues his work through the APSE Armed Forces and Veterans Network, where he hopes to highlight and share good practice with the APSE membership.
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Upcoming network meetings:
Friday 26 September 2025
Speakers include:
- Vector24: Removing barriers to support - Marie Crombie, CEO, Vector24
- How Leeds City Council support the armed forces community – Councillor Jane Dowson, Leeds Armed Forces Champion and Councillor Tom Hinchcliffe, Chair of the Armed Forces Covenant Board
- MOD Update on guidance, best practice and reports Patrick O’Brien, Armed Forces Covenant
To view events in your area, click here.
Promoting excellence in public services
APSE (Association for Public Service Excellence) is a not for profit unincorporated association working with over 300 councils throughout the UK. Promoting excellence in public services, APSE is the foremost specialist in local authority frontline services, hosting a network for frontline service providers in areas such as waste and refuse collection, parks and environmental services, cemeteries and crematorium, environmental health, leisure, school meals, cleaning, housing and building maintenance.
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