With a distinguished military career to look back on, having served as a doctor in the Falklands, and in both Gulf Wars, Brigadier John Graham has been recognised for both his military services and his service to the community in Northern Ireland.

Delighted to have been awarded an OBE, John said: “It is particularly meaningful for me as it is for both my military [career] and the work afterwards and recognises the work in championing veterans’ health.

“After I came back from the first Gulf War, having taken command of a medical unit, I realised so many soldiers were suffering after the war.”

It was while on board the SS Canberra, running part of the hospital during the Falklands War, that the Old Portoran met his wife, Helen, who was the ship’s accountant.

The two married in 1982 and have two daughters, Alice and Sarah.

One key area of concern for John throughout his time as a doctor, and later as a public health physician, was the health concerns of veterans.

John played a key role in research programmes both in the UK and US to investigate Gulf veterans’ health concerns, which have produced thousands of papers on all aspects of post-conflict health.

He said: “When we started, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) wasn’t really accepted, and it is of course now mainstream, but our work helped to validate CBT and its wider relevance in civilian practice.”

Other roles for John include serving as Deputy Lieutenant for County Fermanagh from 2014. He also served as an Honourary Physician to the late Queen Elizabeth II.

John returned to live in Enniskillen 10 years ago, having taken early retirement after his wife took ill. Since his return, he has been active in the community. He is the Board Chair of the Brooke House Health and Wellbeing Centre, which provides care for military and police veterans.

He has been involved with a number of groups including the Old Portora Union, Island Investment Club and the Ballinamallard Historical Society, Inniskillings Museum, and is the Chairman of the Ulster Branch of the Royal Army Medical Corps.

In addition, John has been involved with Arts Over Borders and has previously ran the music programme for the Happy Days International Beckett Festival.

John said he has been thrilled to receive messages congratulating him on his OBE, and he looks forward to celebrating receiving his honour with his family.