Page 63 - QARANC Vol 14 No 9 2014

National military charity helps blind veteran to continue weaving
THE GAZETTE QARANC 61
Chester Association Branch
Grand Reunion
Calling all past and present members of the QARANC
You are invited to join in on a weekend of fun at the Grand QARANC Reunion
to be held in Shrewsbury 4th to 6th September 2015.
An excellent weekend is planned, with dinner on the Saturday night at the Prince Rupert Hotel and thanksgiving service on the Sunday morning.
Our last reunion was a lovely occasion it brought old friends together and a chance for us to make new friends and a great opportunity for us to reminisce and catch up with each other.
If you would like to stay at the hotel please contact them direct by phone 01743 499955
or via their website: www.prince-rupert-hotel.co.uk
There is also a Premier Inn and other accommodation all within walking distance of the Prince Rupert Hotel where the Saturday dinner will take place.
For more details please contact:
Lynn Orfanelli: Tel: 01829 741189 Email: l.orfanelli@tiscali.co.uk or Liz Ashworth: Tel: 01952 593488 Email: ehashworth@hotmail.com
Blind Veterans UK believes that no one who has served our country should have to battle blindness alone. Through its No One Alone campaign, the charity is reaching out to the estimated 68,000+ vision impaired ex-Service men and women who are not currently aware of the support available to them.
Blind Veterans UK provides what each veteran needs to live independently with sight loss - that could be anything from specialist equipment and training to rehabilitation and emotional support from other veterans in a similar situation.
It doesn’t matter when or how they lost their
sight, or when they served, Blind Veterans UK
lifelong support to help ex-Service men and women overcome the challenges of sight loss and regain their independence.
Brenda Bryon is one of the veterans the charity has helped discover life after sight loss. The 89-year-old veteran began to lose her sight over 10 years ago, meaning that she found it increasingly difficult to do many day-to-day activities, including continuing her favourite pastime, weaving.
Since contacting Blind Veterans UK in 2006, Brenda has received vital support to help her to adjust to her sight loss and return to weaving. She has recently been teaching other
blind veterans how to weave at the charity’s Brighton centre.
“Weaving and spinning have been my hobby for 50 years,” says Brenda. “It was quite upsetting when I started to lose my sight and couldn’t see very clearly what I was doing. I was quite lost, but Blind Veterans UK has helped me.
“Blind Veterans UK has showed me that I can do things on my own. They have done so much for me and one of the best things about Blind Veterans UK is that you meet others who are going through the same problem.
“I would recommend it to anybody who’s been in the Forces and is suffering from sight loss. I am always telling people about Blind Veterans UK and the amazing work they do.”
The charity’s No One Alone campaign is reaching out to veterans who are now battling severe sight loss and may be eligible for support, but are not currently receiving it. If you are, or know a blind or vision impaired veteran and would like to find out if the charity could provide free lifelong support to them and their family, call freephone 0800 389 7979 or visit www.noonealone.org.uk
offers free