David Dimbleby opens library at Ovingdean centre

The television presenter formally launched the new space at Blind Veterans UK’s Ovingdean facility yesterday (Wednesday, March 4).

At the opening, he said: “I spoke at the centenary celebration for Blind Veterans UK in 2015 and found out that the charity doesn’t only support those who lost their sight in service but at any point in their life.

“They helped my friend after he lost his sight many years after his service and I saw the difference the equipment and training made to him. The tools to allow him to read again were particularly helpful.

“That is why I’m so pleased to be here today and opening this very special library.”

Volunteers Claire Brewer and Jo Cornish have led the project to create the library, working to increase what was available and the accessibility of the formats, and to reorganise the library to make it easier for those with a vision impairment to navigate.

Inspiration for the library, which is supported by volunteers, stemmed from Ms Brewer’s initial involvement volunteering with Blind Veterans UK. She started volunteering as a home visitor and began regularly visiting a local veteran called Len.

She said: “One of the things that he talked to me about was how he’d signed up to receive talking books from the county library but was getting sent lots that he had no interest in reading.

“It was a lot of romances and he really enjoyed his military history.

“It made me want to help Len, which I did, but also made me realise the difference that being able to have access to simple things like the books you want to read makes. He was really down when I first started visiting and I saw the change in him. A good book that you’re really engaged in can make a small world a bit bigger.”

Blind Veterans UK helps vision-impaired former service men and women rebuild their lives after sight loss. Since 1915, the charity has provided rehabilitation, training, practical advice and emotional support to tens of thousands of blind veterans.