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News Veterans' stories

A Celebration of Wales and Friendship in Llandudno

Published on 1 Mar 2024

In the week leading up to St David's Day on 1st March, blind veterans holidaying at the Llandudno Centre enjoyed a week long celebration of Wales with a 'Dragons and Daffodils' themed break.

Blind veterans from across the UK arrived in Llandudno, known as the "Queen of Welsh Resorts", to enjoy Welsh food tastings, a knockout Welsh games tournament, Welsh lessons and Wales history talks as well as arts and crafts sessions and trips out to local tourist attractions.

A man and woman sit on a sofa being served cheese by another lady wearing traditional Welsh dress.
Visitors to the Llandudno Centre enjoy a Welsh cheese tasting
A man wearing glasses stands in front of a board with a picture of fish and chips and a seagull pin.
Graham attempts 'Pin the seagull on the fish and chips'
A group of people sit on chairs in a circle holding buckets and attempt to throw leeks into the buckets
Blind veterans play a leek tossing game during the Welsh Knockout Games
A man wearing a Welsh bonnet proudly holds three certificates and a Welsh flag.
Geoff proudly shows off his winners certificate for the Welsh Knockout Games
Two men sit on a sofa wearing daffodil costumes and a man stands behind them wearing a Welsh bonnet
Blind veterans and staff enjoy a Welsh food tasting
Two men wearing red Wales Rugby shirts sit in front of the Welsh flag which has a white and green background and a red dragon.
Blind veterans Dean and Graham celebrate St David's Day

The week brought together a special group of blind veterans from the West Wales community who have formed a special friendship and bring a true sense of camaraderie to the Centre when they get together for a holiday. 

Returning to the Centre for her 7th holiday visit, was Sheila who joined Blind Veterans UK in 2019. Though Sheila hails from Scotland she made Wales her home after serving 24 years with the Army's Royal Logistics Corps and now regularly visits Llandudno with friends she has made from the Blind Veterans community across South and West Wales.

Shelia said " The camaraderie at Blind Veterans is absolutely fantastic, I have made so many friends who have really helped to bring me out of my shell. When I first came to the Centre I was quiet as a mouse but with the support of other blind veterans I now get involved in everything and try all the activities. The people here really make the place special"

"The friends I have made through Blind Veterans UK have become my family and the support I have received from the Charity has been life changing. After being medically discharged from the Army, I have had some low points but the staff and other veterans across Blind Veterans UK helped me and showed me what I can do and that has been fantastic"
Blind veteran Sheila

For Dragons and Daffodils week Sheila was joined by around eight other blind veterans and their partners from around the West Wales area, however when they are joined by friends from the Cardiff community their gatherings can swell to more than 20!


Gary, one of the Events and Entertainment Facilitators in the Llandudno Centre said "Our Blind Veterans from South and West Wales always bring an added level of fun and laughter to the Centre, they all make sure that everybody gets involved and are really supportive of each other".