Visually impaired ex-service men and women visited the history department at Bangor University towards the end of last year, as part of a history week organised by the charity Blind Veterans UK.
The history week was held in the Blind Veterans Llandudno training and rehabilitation centre, which supports anyone who has served in the Armed Forces, or who has done National Service, and who is now living with significant sight loss.
Visiting Bangor University’s history facility, the vision-impaired ex-Service men and women were honoured to be taken into the Council Chamber. The lecturer in charge of their visit admitted, it was not somewhere even he was usually allowed access to.
Ex-Serviceman Jim was particularly impressed by the Council table which he estimated was “25 to 30 feet long and surrounded by the most beautiful carved and upholstered chairs.”
“Telling stories is the best way to teach, to persuade and even to understand ourselves”, Jim says. And that was the idea behind inviting Bangor history students to chat to some of the blind veterans. They listened to their stories and it was a wonderful experience for veterans and students alike.
The University’s archivist also showed the vetrens and students a land grant, signed by Richard I ‘Lionheart’, their oldest item and written in Latin.
During the week the veterans also visited the National Memorial Arboretum, at Alrewas, near Lichfield, Staffordshire, which is a national site of remembrance. A tour around this amazing and emotional exhibition led Jim to comment: “To say it is moving is underestimating its effect.”
He was especially pleased to be allowed to touch the Blind Veterans UK’s memorial, a bronze statue – Victory over Blindness – that was on display until early December.
