A blind veteran from Dorset has made a special batch of scented candles to commemorate Remembrance and is selling them to give back to a military charity that has supported him since he lost his sight.
Tony Haskey, 65-years-old and from Poole, has made a special version of his Rock Salt & Driftwood candle which includes a space on the label to write the name of the person being remembered. Each candle comes with a complimentary wax poppy and Tony is donating 50% of the profits to Blind Veterans UK to thank the charity for the support it has given him.
Earlier this year in May Tony created VE Day 80 ‘After the Darkness’ candles, raising £2,000 for Blind Veterans UK.
He says:
“Making candles helps me focus my thoughts and emotions into something beautiful, and I often think about the warmth and light they bring, just like the support Blind Veterans UK offers to veterans.
“The charity has been a constant source of encouragement, helping me stay connected to my craft and reminding me of the importance of honouring those who gave so much.”
“I hope people can light a candle, reflect on those who gave their lives for us, and feel that the flame is burning in their memory. That would mean a lot to me.”
Since he lost his sight Tony has found lots of ways to adapt his candle making process. He says:
“I use talking scales to measure the fragrance I’m using, and I buy wax in blocks of set weights so I can cut them to size consistently. I also use my magnifier to read the labels on the fragrance bottles so I know exactly what I’m working with.”
Tony first joined up to the Royal Marines at 16-years-old. It was later in his career while serving on an operation overseas when he first felt something was wrong with his vision; he saw a medic who advised that he had an incurable eye condition and was told to return to the UK. He says:
“I was feeling very low. I had to come back to the UK on my own and leave my comrades behind.”
On his return to the UK, Tony was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a condition that worsens over time and can affect vision in a number of ways such as night blindness, trouble adjusting to light changes, difficulty seeing colours, and narrowed peripheral vision.
He says:
“I was 27 at the time and my world just collapsed. I was devastated. I went home from the hospital and tried to take in what I’d been told. I got depressed and felt like that was the end for me. The career I’d worked hard for was suddenly gone. I didn’t know what jobs I could do. I felt scared and alone.”
In 1993, Tony discovered Blind Veterans UK and began receiving the charity’s support. He was sent to the charity’s rehabilitation centre to attend a six-week course which included basic housekeeping, cooking and computer literacy skills.
He says:
“When I arrived at the centre, I had no confidence, no sense of worth and no belief in myself. I didn’t expect to feel so welcomed, and I ended up learning more than I thought I would. Every day of the course felt like a fresh start. I missed my family, but I knew that by investing that time in myself, I might be able to find a new path.”
Tony’s candle costs £9.99 and can be purchased from seabreezecandles.co.uk
Blind Veterans UK supports thousands of blind veterans across the country, but knows there are many thousands more who still need its support to rebuild their lives after sight loss.
If you, or someone you know, served in the Armed Forces, including National Service, and are now struggling with sight loss, then please get in touch. Call 0800 389 7979 or visit: blindveterans.org.uk/gethelp
