Making friends in Paisley has given me a new lease of life
Ronnie salutes Hawkhead Centre
Service with the RAF Regiment for three years as a gunner and driver, said: “Sandra was really good when I lost my sight. When we had an idea about what was going to happen, she used to have me walking around the house with my eyes shut.
“She passed away last Christmas. I still get quite upset about it. She was a very brave woman.
“I didn’t know what was happening.
“Depression is what I was dealing with.
“Loneliness is part of my problem now. I find it hard living here without my wife being here.
“I do a lot of walking – I will get out every day. I’m alright in the summer because I can go out in the summer any time, but in the winter you are housebound.
“You’re not looking for attention at all but you find people don’t see or don’t want to see people with disabilities – a lot of people think you don’t exist.”
Since joining Scottish War Blinded, Norrie has attended the charity’s activity hub - the Hawkhead Centre in Paisley for veterans with sight loss.
Staff pick him up and drop him home every Monday so he can attend the centre – and the veteran says he looks forward to trying out new activities each week, from archery and group quizzes to cookery classes.
This time of year is particularly tough for Norrie and people in a similar position to him.
He said: “Christmas and New Year? You want them over quickly. There are lots of things in my house that were Sandra’s. It’s the reflection at this time of year, that’s the terrible bit.
“I love all kinds of music, but I won’t listen to music at home anymore. It makes me too emotional.
“If I move somewhere else, that would have no memories at all. There’s no escaping it, the connection’s there all the time. It drives you nuts.
“Very fortunately for me, along came Scottish War Blinded.”
Getting to try new activities and make new friends through has been a blessing.
Norrie said: “The people are so easy to talk to. It’s like you’ve known them all your days.
“Everybody’s trying new things and you get a good laugh.
“I’ve been bowling – before that I’d never been bowling in my life. I’ve done archery too. You can’t see the target, but they talk you through it. There’s the sense of achievement when you hit the target.
“After Sandra died I was just by myself. I did no other activities. All I’d do was walk. Who’d have thought at 80 years old I’d be playing with a real bow and arrow?
“I can take the food I make home with me as well, that’s really nice.”
Norrie, who lives in East Kilbride, says it is great to know he has support from the staff at Scottish War Blinded.
He said: “I’m very conscious of having to rely on other people if I’m out.
“But at the Hawkhead Centre everybody’s the same and has problems with their sight. Everybody needs help.
“Scottish War Blinded came round at the right time for me. The staff are so understanding. If you’ve got a problem they can help or put you in contact with someone in confidence regarding your problem, which is utterly brilliant because half the time, especially when you’re on your own, you’re having to figure these things out yourself.”
Scottish War Blinded is working to raise awareness of the impact of social isolation on veterans living with sight loss.
Rebecca Barr, Scottish War Blinded director, said: “Our research has shown that too many of our members have experienced social isolation as a result of their sight loss, and access to the services we provide is crucial to help our veterans overcome loneliness or prevent them from becoming isolated.”