WHEN Pollok veteran and war historian William McKinlay was told he could “wake up one morning totally blind”, he was devastated.

“I’m hoping against all hope that my eyesight is going to last me as I worry it will stop me seeing my grandson grow,” said the 69-year-old from Pollok.

As a military historian being told he was losing his sight was a blow for William, who loves reading and researching for his tours of the city’s Royal Highland Fusiliers Regimental Museum and leading educational World War lessons in primary schools.

Glasgow Times:

He did not have to worry so much about seeing when he was in the army, he said.

“In the forces, you don’t need to worry because somebody is watching your back. We know how to watch each other’s backs, even if we have sight loss,” said William.

William served in the army for nine years in the 1970s and 12 years ago began to lose his sight.

“I hadn’t had any support with my sight loss prior to getting in touch with Sight Scotland Veterans at the end of 2019. I was really needing help to read,” he said.

Reaching out to the charity has helped him regain his independence and allowed him to continue his beloved research.

Rehabilitation support and a digital magnifier from Sight Scotland allowed William to read again and is keeping him busy with preparing future school lessons while he is confined to his home during lockdown.

Other gadgets from his support officer Katrina Campbell have allowed William to live independently.

He said: “Katrina also provided me with a talking clock and talking watch, which is very helpful when I’m cooking, and I now have a liquid level indicator for making cups of tea to stop overfilling the cup.”

Because losing much of his sight has made it hard for William to get out of the house for exercise, walking cane training with Katrina has allowed him to get some fresh air when he needs it.

He added: “It feels like Sight Scotland Veterans is watching our backs with phone calls and support, even in lockdown. The camaraderie and friendship is there, and if you’re stuck somebody will help. That’s just the way the community is.”

Clair Bryan, interim director of services at Sight Scotland Veterans, said: “We know there are thousands more veterans with sight loss in Scotland, including those who served National Service, who are eligible for our support. The majority of the veterans we support today have sight loss as a result of age-related conditions such as macular degeneration or as a result of an accident or illness.”