Goodbye and thank you

Our President, Colin Williamson, was also in attendance. He provided a response to the staff and volunteers on behalf of the membership. He said:

“It is both an honour and a privilege to have been invited to join you all here at the Llandudno Centre on this beautiful spring day as we celebrate the life of this outstanding centre and the tremendous achievements of its amazing staff and volunteers.

In 2016, during an international exchange to the centre, a war blinded member of St. Dunstan’s South Africa, Don Wessells, said the following. “Attitude is such a small thing but can make such a huge difference to people’s lives and I have never experienced, in my life as a blind person, the kind of warmth, friendliness and first-class hospitality shown to me and my fellow blind veterans by the staff at the Llandudno Centre. It is such a unique facility and everyone who works here should feel extremely proud”. We, the members of Blind Veterans UK, echo those sentiments.

I first visited this centre back in 2010, not long after we had purchased the property. Back then, the site was just a hastily abandoned, rather forlorn looking, sorry state of affairs. Little did I know then what this iconic building would eventually turn out to be and what lasting memories we would all have of it.

It has left a mark on our hearts and on our consciousness and we will always carry part of it with us and leave part of us behind.  On behalf of the entire membership of Blind Veterans UK, I’d like to offer sincere and heartfelt thanks to everyone connected to this wonderful oasis. It’s amazing and dedicated staff, our fantastic volunteers, the colourful cohort of Members who have been fortunate enough to have visited, the fist-class catering team and the community of Llandudno. Each and every one of you have played a part in its success, and you should all be rightly proud of your achievements.

We often hear the phrase ‘the family of Blind Veterans UK’ and sometimes it can feel like a bit of an overworked cliché; but the staff and volunteers at this centre, since day one, have always felt like family to our Members. “Passionate, kind, thoughtful, fun and professional” are just some of the many descriptors that members have used when describing the staff here at the centre, and you have all left a long-lasting, life-changing and meaningful impact on their lives.

There are three types of people in this world. Dreamers, who dream what life could be but spend more time thinking than doing;  Doers, who constantly put in the hard yards and work tirelessly but are far too busy to realise that there is something else out there. Creators are the people who have a vision, and who are determined to see it through to the end. That’s you, the staff and volunteers at this centre, you are the creators, and you have made such wonderful things happen.

Whatever magic dust that was sprinkled so abundantly around this centre when it first opened its doors found its way into your hearts and into your souls, and you have made this place so special, and in turn helped to make us, the Members, who and what we are and I’d like to thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

Team Llandudno. You always delivered; and you always placed the needs of Members first and foremost. This is a bittersweet day as we lower the standard for the final time but one thing I will never forget are the memories of this wonderful centre. Its amazing staff and volunteers will stay with me, and my fellow Members, forever.”