A veteran from Frome is celebrating a new relationship she found through national military charity, Blind Veterans UK, this Valentine’s Day.
Pat Mason, 75, met Harry Hitch, 90 at the Blind Veterans UK training and rehabilitation centre in Brighton last summer. Both have been widowed and received free specialist support from the charity.
Pat says, “Harry and I speak the same language. Since we met in June we have spoken on the phone every day and we’ve had some fun times together. He’s got such a great sense of humour and incredible stories to tell.”
Pat served in the Women’s Royal Army Corps from 1961 – 1962 as an ambulance driver. She left the Armed Forces to marry an Army Sergeant and was discharged as a Private. She later joined the Army Reserves for three years and was discharged as a Lance Corporal.
Pat added, “I wanted to learn to drive so my dad jokingly said that I could join the Army if I was determined to learn. He was very surprised when I took up his advice and passed all the exams! The only thing the Army wouldn’t let me drive was a tank. I enjoyed my time in the Army and the Reserves. I miss the camaraderie and the people the most. You get to know women from all over the country and you look out for each other. The training stays with you for a long time. I still stand at ease when I am at the bus stop.”
Seven years ago, Pat’s sight started to deteriorate because of age-related macular degeneration. She was registered sight-impaired (partially-sighted) in 2014.
Pat said, “I did find it hard when my sight got worse. I used to really enjoy doing watercolour paintings but that just became so difficult when I couldn’t see clearly anymore. But in 2015, I found out about Blind Veterans UK and I started to receive free specialist support from the charity.
“Blind Veterans UK has been wonderful. Thanks to them I’ve learned how to paint again. I had a week in their Brighton centre learning how to use acrylics and, using what little sight I’ve got, I was able to paint some pictures for my children. The charity really showed me that even though I have sight loss I can still do things I enjoy.”
It was in June 2016 that Pat met Harry Hitch. In 1946 Harry joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) for National Service and served for two years as an aircraft mechanic at RAF White Waltham in Maidenhead. Harry was discharged from the RAF in 1948 as an Aircraftman.
It was years later when Harry’s sight also started to deteriorate due to age-related macular degeneration, leaving him with very little sight in one eye. Then suddenly a blocked blood vessel in the retina of Harry’s other eye took away the rest of his sight. He has been registered severely sight-impaired (blind) since 2014.
Harry and Pat met at the Blind Veterans UK Brighton centre where they were both staying for a week. As Pat’s vision is slightly better than Harry’s, she offered to help Harry to a seat in the lounge. They sat down together and as they started chatting they realised that they had a lot to talk about.
Pat said, “I cannot praise Blind Veterans UK enough. They’ve given amazing equipment and through them I was able to meet Harry. We will be going to the Brighton centre again this month for a holiday and I’m really looking forward to it.”
If you, or someone you know, served in the Armed Forces or did National Service and is now battling severe sight loss, find out how Blind Veterans UK could help by calling 0800 389 7979 or visiting noonealone.org.uk.
