LOVE is in the air once again for a Broadway couple who met through one of Blind Veterans UK’s rehabilitation centres.
Dennis Hatch, 89, lost his sight due to macular degeneration and Nancy Roberts, 84, is a Blind Veterans UK widow.
The caring couple live together in Broadway after meeting each other while visiting one of Blind Veterans UK’s rehabilitation
centres in Brighton.
Dennis has received support by the ex-service charity for five years after volunteering for the Navy from 1943 to 1946.
Nancy came in to contact with the charity after her husband Ted who served in the Second World War, went blind overnight.
She has been receiving help from the charity for ten years, even after Ted’s death, as the charity also looks after the spouses and families of blind veterans.
“Blind Veterans UK have been such a big support to me and relieved me of a lot pressure over the years when I was caring for Ted.” she said.
“I have so much to thank them for and even more so now I have met Dennis!”
“After Ted died, I had to rebuild my life again. I still enjoyed getting to Blind Veteran UK’s rehabilitation centre in Brighton; it was good to socialise with other people.
“Meeting someone was the last thing on my mind. I didn’t want anyone else, I had cared for Ted for so long, but when I met Dennis we just hit it off straight away.
“It’s like we are living our lives all over again.” she added.
Dennis became involved with Blind Veterans UK just after his wife died and has received a range of equipment and training
from the charity, but it was having the opportunity to meet other people that really turned his life around.
“It all started over breakfast, when I sat down I saw this lady with a lovely smile on her face sat opposite me.” he added.
“I was trying to pour myself a coffee but as I have a shake, she helped me to pour it.
“She then ended up buttering my toast for me as well! Meeting someone was the last thing on my mind, but we immediately clicked and get on so well.”
“Blind Veterans UK have been very good to me. They loaned me a scanner, some talking books and advised me on getting a stair lift but the best thing Blind Veterans UK has ever done for me was allowing me to meet Nancy.”
Blind Veterans UK has been providing vital free training, rehabilitation, equipment and emotional support to vision impaired veterans for more than100 years to help them go on to lead full, independent lives and in many cases, excel in areas such as
work, education and sport.
Anyone who served in the Armed Forces, or those who did National Service, and is now battling severe sight problems can get support from Blind Veterans UK.
Visit www.noonealone.org.uk or call 0800 389 7979 for more information.
