91 YEAR-OLD VETERAN GUEST OF HONOUR AT VE DAY PARTY FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH SIGHT LOSS
A 91 year-old Army veteran was the guest of honour at a special VE Day party in Great Yarmouth organised by sight loss charity Vision Norfolk, in conjunction with Blind Veterans UK.
Vision impaired people and volunteers got together at the charity’s Great Yarmouth hub on Hall Quay in the town to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War in Europe. The party listened to a recording of Winston Churchill’s VE Day speech and joined in with community singing led from the keyboard by blind pianist Ed Bates.
Veteran Tony Wilkin, who served as a wireless operator in Egypt from 1952 to 1954, told the gathering about the work of Blind Veterans UK, which helps vision impaired ex-servicemen and women to rebuild their lives after sight loss.
Mr Wilkin was diagnosed with macular degeneration about ten years ago, and has been registered blind since 2017. Having received support from Blind Veterans UK, he now volunteers as a telephone befriender, supporting others living with macular degeneration.
“Charities like Blind Veterans UK and Vision Norfolk are so important in helping people living with sight loss to tackle the isolation and loneliness which can happen as a result of their sight deteriorating,” he said.
“For ex-servicemen and women, the opportunity to share their experiences with others who have come from a services background can be really helpful – having that military experience in common provides a really good starting point for building social relationships.”
Blind Veterans UK provides rehabilitation, training, practical advice and emotional support to veterans regardless of how or when they lost their sight. More details at www.blindveteransuk.org.uk.
In 2025 Vision Norfolk is marking 220 years of empowering people living with sight loss to live independent and fulfilled lives.