Our Rustington centre opened by HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh

Her Royal Highness visited the charity at our new south coast home in Rustington, seeing first-hand the difference the charity makes to the lives of the blind veterans we support.

We completed the move from our previous south coast home in Brighton at the end of last year.

Blind Veterans UK Rustington Centre Manager, Lesley Garven MBE, said: "After an initial phased opening, particularly ensuring that our small number of permanent residents were settled in, the building is now operating at full capacity welcoming blind veterans from across the country for holidays, themed and activity weeks and for specific training and rehabilitation.

"We had over 80 years of history at our Brighton centre, but we’ve had such a warm welcome from the local community in Rustington that I know we’ll be making all new memories here."

On the tour of the building The Duchess of Edinburgh met with veterans who served in the Second World War, blind veteran archers, and tried her hand at some mosaic making with veterans who enjoy art and craft.

Her Royal Highness also assisted with the ceremonial reburial of a time capsule that was dug up from our former centre in Brighton and marched to Rustington by a group of blind veterans last summer.

The time capsule, buried in 2015 to mark 100 years of Blind Veterans UK, contains items and documents detailing the history of the organisation. Among them is a talking watch, the first piece of equipment offered to every Blind Veterans UK beneficiary. It is still set to be opened in 2115, 100 years after it was originally buried.

The Duchess also unveiled a very special plaque, carved from wood and made by two blind veterans, Peter and Gary, who have been supported by the charity to continue their hobby of woodworking.

One of the blind veterans that had the opportunity to meet The Duchess was Alan Walker. Alan started the whole visit off when he was given the responsibility of raising the Royal Standard when the Royal party arrived. He also had the opportunity to talk to Her Royal Highness in our new gym.

Alan said: “I serve as a standard bearer for Blind Veterans UK, so it really is the ultimate honour to raise that Royal Standard for the time The Duchess of Edinburgh was with us.

“I was also proud to speak to Her Royal Highness and get across the impact the charity has had on me since I lost my sight.”

Alan lost his sight on Christmas Day in 2012. He was hospitalised with a pneumococcal infection in his eyes and brain, which caused him to become completely blind in his left eye and have only 30% sight in his right.

He began to receive support from Blind Veterans UK in 2013 and, since then, we have supported him in retraining as a gym instructor. He now represents the charity at events across the country as a standard bearer. He was also one of a group of blind veterans that contributed to the design and layout of the new Rustington Centre.