Dave’s poems tell his story, giving hope to others
A visually-impaired RAF vet e ran is giving chapter and verse at two creative exhibitions.
Dave Phillips, 53, who lives in Foxbar, Paisley, is one of 30 wounded, injured and sick veterans supported by Help for Heroes to feature at two Creative Force exhibitions organised by the charity.
The first one opened in the Lochgelly Centre, Fife, last weekend and a second exhibition will be held at Edinburgh Napier University in November.
Dave has several poems featured in the exhibition.
The Paisley man, who works as a travel agent, said: “I became aware of a strange pattern of floaters that kept crossing my vision. Thinking I may need new glasses I paid a visit to the medical centre and began a short, sharp journey into despair.
“I was referred to Moorfields Eye Hospital in London and diagnosed with an incurable, hereditary disease of my retinas.
“This ended my RAF career and my driving.
“All I could see was a bleak future ahead.
“Unable to drive, I decided I needed to get out and see stuff while I still could.
“I became an accomplished hitch hiker and travelled to every corner of the UK with the occasional foray into Europe. I guess I was building a catalogue of images in my mind.”
Dave was diagnosed at the age of 25 with retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative eye disease that causes severe visual impairment, while he was serving in the RAF.
Married with two grown up step-daughters, Dave has been writing poetry since he was a teenager.
“I can still see – straight ahead – and am a keen photographer,” he said.
“I’m amazed at the optimism in some of my poems.
“My wife will be the first to say how down I can get sometimes.
“The bad moments are born of frustration but, thanks to my family, they’re never dark for long. There’s light at the end of every tunnel.”
All the Creative Force exhibitors are members of the Help for Heroes peer
Creative Force by Dave Phillips
Broken bodies
Broken Minds
The wheelchair bound
The lost, the blind
The permanently spoilt of war Duties done for ever more No solo Trans-Atlantic Row No yomp with Harry in the snow No Paralympic medal fame No place in the Invictus Games Yet just as broken
Just as stressed
And maybe not so young support networks Band of Brothers and Band of Sisters, which have over 800 members in Scotland.
Gerry McGregor, Help for Heroes’ Band of Brothers/ Sisters coordinator for Scotland, said: “Those who have served our country and their families experience struggles that some of us will never understand.
“Recovery from physical or psychological injury takes time and there is no one size fits all approach.
“Some may benefit from a physical programme, while others find creativity eases the daily struggle of living with pain, depression, anxiety, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
“Vi s i t o r s to the exhibitions will have the opportunity to meet some of the artists, hear their heartfelt stories and see their truly inspirational artwork demonstrate how creative activity helps in their recovery.”
The exhibition runs until Saturday, September 14, at Lochgelly Community Centre, Fife and is at E d i n b u r g h Na p i e r University’s Craiglockhart campus from November 18 to 22.
Nor blessed
With any superhuman fitness
The work they do bears solemn witness To the battles they still fight each day Each piece reminds us of the way
They use the function that remains To give some respite from the pain
And here in wood and paint and clay In words and photos on display
These veterans reach out a hand To help you try and understand
The strength that they all still possess Is really neither more nor less
Than the amputee
Up Everest