Couple welcomed back to Rustington

Our new Centre of Wellbeing in Rustington was previously owned by the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.

As an ex-RAF Aircraftman, blind veteran Terry had enjoyed many previous stays at the property; he and his partner Joyce were devastated when it closed its doors.

Joyce says:

“When we were told that the RAF Benevolent Fund was closing the centre in Rustington, I sat on the sofa and sobbed. I couldn’t bear the thought that we would never go back as we had so many lovely holidays there.

“But it turns out, you should never say never. We were so excited to get back here and to see what Blind Veterans UK has done to the place.”

As soon as Terry found out that we were taking over the centre, he promptly got on the phone. He says:

"I badgered the staff to let us come and stay.

“Looking out my window at home before we left for our stay, the sky was grey, the river flooded and we were feeling isolated, but having a place like Rustington to visit is a huge boost."

Terry's military career

Terry joined the RAF in 1953 when he was 18 and served for five years as a ground wireless engineer based mostly in Egypt and the Middle East servicing the radios that were damaged in the desert. He says:

“I spent two years of my service living in a tent in the desert, there were millions of flies in my tent and sandstorms occurred frequently. It was not the most pleasant place to be.”

Terry was discharged as a leading aircraftman and returned to work as a domestic service engineer working on televisions and radios.

Sight loss

Seven years ago, Terry underwent an operation on his left eye which left him with a damaged retina. Two years later, Terry discovered he had age related macular degeneration and began to have injections to maintain his eyesight but 18 months ago Terry was told the injections were going to be stopped as no more could be done. Terry says:

“I sort of expected it, but it has been very frustrating. I’m also severely hearing impaired and therefore I used to read the subtitles while watching the TV but that’s now become a struggle.

“I was also a keen hobbyist; I was involved in amateur radio but I could no longer do Morse code and my other love was woodcarving which I could no longer do. Life becomes frustrating at times.”

Receiving support from our charity

Terry’s consultant at the hospital asked if he had ever completed military service and advised him to get in touch with us. Terry says:

“Finding out about Blind Veterans UK has been life-changing for us. Everyone at the charity bends over backwards to help.

“I’ve been provided with a very bright reading lamp so I can read my iPad and a magnifying reader. The charity helps us blind veterans to discover what we can do or what we want to do, and then helps us achieve it.

“Knowing how kind everyone at Blind Veterans UK is, means we have no qualms at all about the charity moving into our beloved centre at Rustington."

The staff at Rustington gave Terry and Joyce a very warm welcome when they arrived. Centre Manager Lesley said:

“It’s so wonderful to welcome Terry and Joyce to our lovely new Wellbeing Centre in Rustington. Both were regular visitors when it was Princess Marina House, and it is heartening to know that they approve of all the changes we have made over the last year whilst the centre was being refurbished.

“From their comments it looks like Terry and Joyce will become regular visitors and we look forward to having them back. A very happy couple!”