November 04, 2024 - 1223 views
Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women, will be hosting an Act of Remembrance and coffee morning at its Llandudno Centre of Wellbeing on Saturday 9 November.
Members of the local community are invited to mark Remembrance with blind veterans at the centre on Queen’s Road, Craig y Don between 9.30am and 12pm. The event is part of the charity’s annual military week activities and is an opportunity to come together to remember the fallen and those left behind.
Attendees can view the installation of knitted poppies at the entrance to the centre as well as the poppy field display of knitted poppies made by veterans, volunteers and supporters of the charity.
Visitors will be invited to add a poppy to the field, in remembrance of their own loved ones, during the event. Admission is free and there is no need to book.
Blind veterans and their guests staying at the centre in the weeks leading up to military week have been helping with preparation of the poppies for the display with staff and volunteers at the centre.
The charity also received help planting the poppies in the Field of Remembrance from learners from the Military Preparation College of Training in Bangor. Their support has helped make this year’s display bigger than ever and proved a popular stop on Llandudno’s Poppy Trail during the recent Longest Yarn event.
A spokesperson at the Llandudno Centre, said: “Each year our Act of Remembrance marks a significant time for our blind veterans as they remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice. This year is especially poignant as we mark 80 years since D-Day and pay special tribute to those who served and lost their lives on this momentous day.
“It is always an honour to share Remembrance and our military week with blind veterans visiting our Llandudno Centre for rehabilitation and wellbeing breaks and our event provides a wonderful opportunity for our blind veterans to come together with the local community to share stories and to pay their respects.”
More than 40 blind veterans and their partners from across the United Kingdom will be staying at the centre for military week which will see them taking part in activities including visits to RAF Valley, military museums, talks and activities, a 1940s tea dance and a military dinner.
On Sunday 10 November, Blind Veterans UK will take part in the Llandudno service of remembrance and parade where blind veterans will lay wreaths at the war memorial. Tom Owen & Sons, Chateau Rhianfa and Thea Pharmaceuticals have all gifted wreaths as part of the charity’s gift a wreath scheme.
This is just one of the themed stays offered at the centre which are designed to give blind veterans an opportunity to discover or reconnect with hobbies or interests they thought may be inaccessible to them after sight loss.
Blind Veterans UK supports thousands of blind veterans across the country, but knows there are many thousands more who still need its support to rebuild their lives after sight loss.
If you, or someone you know, served in the Armed Forces, including National Service, and are now struggling with sight loss, then please get in touch. Call 0800 389 7979 or www.visit blindveterans.org.uk/gethelp.
