Colchester volunteers appeal as blind veteran choir under threat

Blind Veterans UK is appealing for volunteer drivers to save the fortnightly rehearsal of the Vision in Song choir.

The choir is made up exclusively of ex-servicemen who are blind or severely sight impaired.

They meet every other Thursday morning for rehearsals at Colchester Garrison.

The men range in age from 79 to 95 and hail from across Essex.

According to the charity, many blind veterans suffer from social isolation.

The choir has provided a crucial lifeline for veterans and provides vital social interaction.

Blind Veterans UK say the future of the choir is in doubt and rehearsals have been reduced from weekly to fortnightly.

Without vital volunteer drivers to transport veterans, the rehearsals will not be able to continue.

Blind Veterans UK says it requires volunteer drivers in Halstead, Rayne, Colchester, Basildon, Billericay, Ipswich and Shotley.

The charity provides training on guiding those with a vision impairment and reimburses all out-of-pocket expenses.

The choir members represent all three branches of the British Armed forces – the Army, Navy and RAF – and perform an assortment of numbers from war-time classics to patriotic anthems and jazz hits.

Colin Humphreys, 83, is one of the choir members.

He said: “Being in the choir has become such an important part of my life. The feeling of belonging to a group in old age is very important to us.

“We all have each other’s phone numbers and regularly keep in touch between rehearsals.”

Colin entered the military in 1958 and served as an armoured vehicles mechanic with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in Germany.

It was later in life that macular degeneration stole Colin’s sight which has been in steady decline ever since.

In 2019 the group released debut EP Sing As We Go on Spotify and Apple Music.

Alongside the EP, they released a music video for the song - ‘Pack Up Your Troubles In Your Old Kit-bag’.

Visit volunteer.blindveterans.org.uk to find out more.