Echoes in Boots - Poems from the Front and Beyond - John Nixon
John is an Army veteran from Sheffield, UK, whose life has been defined by service, resilience, and community leadership. After many years in the forces, he returned home determined to build spaces of camaraderie and support for fellow veterans. He founded and continues to lead the Sheffield Armed Forces & Veterans Breakfast Club (AFVBC), a community recognised across Europe for its inclusivity and warmth. His leadership extends beyond veterans’ welfare into youth education and sustainability through his outreach work with Casting Innovations. Poetry became John’s way of honouring shared experiences and processing the complexities of military life, resilience, and love. Writing began as a personal outlet—an attempt to give voice to emotions often left unspoken—and grew into a craft that blends solemnity, hope, and emotional resonance. His poems celebrate camaraderie, confront themes of PTSD and mental health with dignity, and pay tribute to the humour and strength of Sheffield, the city he calls his anchor. Johns book, *Echoes in Boots*, reflects this journey: a collection of poems that weave together soldierly values, personal vulnerability, and the enduring bonds of community. Through his writing, he seeks not only to share his own story but to uplift others, leaving a creative legacy that honours veterans and inspires future generations.
GENRE: Poetry
Blurb:
Echoes in Boots is a powerful collection of poetry born from the heart of an Army veteran who has walked through service, sacrifice, and the search for belonging. Rooted in Sheffield’s resilience and humour, these poems weave together stories of camaraderie, love, and the unspoken battles of mental health and PTSD. It’s words carry both solemnity and hope, honouring the bonds forged in uniform while celebrating the strength of community and family.
