The team at SSAFA Grampian is dedicated to helping veterans, service personnel, and their families, in the local community. Our commitment is to provide support with experienced, non-judgemental and friendly advice, as well as a variety of practical services that cover a range of emotional, practical and financial issues. We are proud to say that we help our Armed Forces family whenever they need us, for as long as they need us. Here at SSAFA Grampian, we have a variety of different personalities that together make our team so special.
Mike Taitt
Branch Chair
Mike is a former Gordon Highlander leaving, after twenty years service and several tours in Northern Ireland, in 1983. He then served for another fifteen years in the Reserve Forces.
He has been a Justice of the Peace, a Deputy Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire, and before joining SSAFA in 2020, Chairman of Aberdeen and District Scottish Veterans Housing.
He has a collection of vintage cars. In 2018 he took one of them, a 1929 Rolls Royce with his Labrador and camping gear, to Croatia.
Julie Silva
Branch Secretary
Julie lived and worked in Suffolk until 2021, and in June 2021 moved, with her husband and their Siberian Husky, to Aberdeen. Julie then took on the volunteer role of Branch Secretary for SSAFA Grampian, a challenging but very rewarding role.
Ranald Cameron
Branch Treasurer
Born in Aberdeen, Ranald was involved with Aberdeen University OTC for 4 years as a member of the Pipe Band. On graduation he moved to London working in accounts, and carried on his involvement with Pipe Bands. He returned to Aberdeen after 17 years.
Shirley Lumby
Branch Administrator/Coordinator
Shirley served 12 years in the RAF as a Personnel Administrator working in General office and as a Squadron Clerk. After leaving the RAF she and her husband relocated to Alberta Canada. Shirley became a volunteer for SSAFA after returning to the UK.
Eleanor Macleod
Caseworker
Ellie has many relatives serving or having served in the Armed Forces, and joined SSAFA in 2022 to contribute to the important forces support network. Outside of volunteering, Ellie is a marine scientist and enjoys hillwalking, hockey and running.
Sheetal Gandhi
Digital Marketing Volunteer
Sheetal came to the UK in 2021 to pursue a Masters. Joining SSAFA Grampian in 2022 as Digital Marketing Volunteer, she's enjoyed learning more of digital marketing, getting involved with local community and engaging with veterans and their families.