Blind veteran publishes memoir chronicling career with Britain’s comedy greats

A 95-year-old blind veteran who wrote for Morecambe and Wise and The Two Ronnies, helped launch Paul Merton’s broadcasting career and created the hit BBC comedy The Men From The Ministry has published his memoir with the support of one of our volunteers.

Edward “Ted” Taylor’s autobiography, 90 Years In A Quandary, recounts an extraordinary life that took him from National Service in the RAF, through Cambridge University and into a distinguished career at the BBC. During more than four decades in broadcasting, Ted worked on more than 2,000 BBC productions and wrote for or worked alongside some of Britain's best-loved entertainers, including Morecambe and Wise, The Two Ronnies, Arthur Askey, Kenneth Horne and Bob Monkhouse.

Ted said: “I would spend the week making notes and when Sian came to visit, I would dictate the text to her. It was a wonderful thing. I'm very grateful to Sian, who remains a friend, and very grateful to Blind Veterans UK for making it possible.”

Sian said: “It was a real privilege to help Ted bring his memoir to life and to hear his remarkable story directly from him. Over the two years we worked on the book together, we developed a friendship that continues today and we still keep in touch regularly.

“When I started volunteering with Blind Veterans UK in 2019, I was looking for a way to use my time to help others and the opportunity to support someone writing their memoir really appealed to me. Seeing the book published has been fantastic, but the best part has been knowing I was able to help Ted achieve something so important to him.

“He has lived such an interesting life and I'm delighted that his story can now be shared with others.”

Born in 1931, Ted joined the Royal Air Force as part of his National Service in 1950. After initially training for aircrew duties, he was posted to a radar station on the east coast, where he monitored for approaching Soviet aircraft during the early years of the Cold War.

Following military service, Ted achieved a lifelong ambition by studying English at Cambridge University and joining the famous Footlights theatrical club. It was there that he caught the attention of a BBC talent scout who offered him a trainee writing contract. What began as a one-year opportunity became a career spanning more than four decades.

One of Ted's proudest achievements was creating, writing and producing The Men From The Ministry, the long-running BBC radio comedy often described as a forerunner to Yes Minister. The series ran for 15 years, was broadcast internationally and was adapted for audiences in several countries around the world.

Ted said: “Arthur Askey was my hero and became a great friend. I was very lucky to spend my life doing work that I loved.”

Ted began losing his sight in the mid-1980s and, despite extensive investigations, doctors were never able to determine the cause. Over time his vision deteriorated significantly and today he has only limited perception of light and shade.

Reflecting on the impact of sight loss, Ted said: “The first thing I realised when something was really wrong was when I looked over my balcony and couldn't make out the things in the garden.”

As his sight deteriorated, Ted was forced to give up driving and adapt to life with severe sight loss. He later learned about our charity through a healthcare professional who recognised that he was an RAF veteran living with sight loss.

Since joining, Ted has received regular welfare support, a talking watch and access to talking books, enabling him to continue enjoying novels, biographies and other literature despite his severe sight loss. He has also enjoyed stays at the charity’s rehabilitation and training centre and received ongoing support from the local team.

Most significantly, we introduced Ted to volunteer Sian, whose support helped him fulfil his ambition of publishing his life story.

Ted said: “At 95 years old, it's very satisfying to see the book finally published. I'm grateful to everyone who helped make it happen.”