A green-fingered blind veteran from Lincolnshire opened his garden to the local community to raise money for Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.
Lawrence Booth, 85 and from Skegness, spends hours caring for his garden and wanted to share his passion with those who live nearby.
Lawrence invited the community into his garden in Wainfleet on Bank Holiday Monday (26 August).
He says:
“I’ve been a keen gardener since I retired and spend around six hours a day outside tending to my pots, hanging baskets, vegetables and lawns.
“I wanted to open up my garden for the day as I thought it would be nice for me to talk to one or two people and to show them what a blind veteran can do.
“I take it nice and steady in the garden and try to do as much as I can myself; I do all the pots myself and my son comes once a week to cut my lawns.
“I had some pots to sell along with a tombola and teas, coffees and cake; I was hoping for a good turn out and to make a bit of money for Blind Veterans UK. The sun shone and about 20 people came along which I’m so happy with. I was able to show people how I grow things in pots and tubs.”
Lawrence served in the RAF between 1958 and 1961. He lost his sight around 20 years ago.
He says:
“It’s like I am looking through a fog all the time. I can’t see anything at all out of my right eye and have only central vision in my left eye. I can cope though; I look after myself and I want to keep active while I can.
“There are days when I get a bit down but I pick myself up and try not to dwell on things. I go out two or three nights a week to my local club and Blind Veterans UK arranged a volunteer who takes me out and about.
“The charity also came out to assess my house and arranged for me to have a reading machine which reads my letters to me and a magnifier. They also put bumps on my cooker so that I know where the dials are.
“My garden keeps me busy and it’s the perfect way for me to do a little something to say thank you to the charity that has helped me so much.”
Blind Veterans UK supports thousands of blind veterans across the country, but knows there are many thousands more who still need its support to rebuild their lives after sight loss.
If you, or someone you know, served in the Armed Forces, including National Service, and are now struggling with sight loss, then please get in touch. Call 0800 389 7979 or visit blindveterans.org.uk/gethelp
