AN Army veteran who lost his sight almost overnight celebrated the centenary of the charity which has helped him Doug Rogers, 76, from Colchester, was reunited with several other veterans supported by Blind Veterans UK, to mark its 100 years of service to blind and vision-impaired ex service men and women.

Mr Rogers joined the Army in 1956, aged 17 and served in the West Yorkshire Regiment and the First Battalion Prince of Wales Own Regiment of Yorkshire.

While with the Army, he served inNorthern Ireland, Gibraltar, Germany, Cyprus and Yemen.

He left the Army after 18 years of service as a staff sergeant.

Mr Rogers has received help and support from Blind Veterans UK since 2005.

He lost his sight due to a virus called retinal vasculitis, which caused him to lose his sight almost overnight.

Mr Rogers said: “I was quite upset as my main hobby at the time was painting military figures, which required precision and good eyesight.”

He has received help from Blind Veterans UK to allow him to read his post with the help of a scanner and equipment to support his new hobby, making model ships and aircraft carriers which are 3ft long.

Mr Rogers added: “I’ve been to the charity’s Brighton centre and have also been part of their archery club. If I want anything, Blind Veterans UK is there to support me.”

Mr Rogers joined fellow veterans for the charity celebration lunch in Cambridge.

Blind Veterans UK was founded in 1915, initially to help and support soldiers blinded in the First World War.

But the organisation has gone on to support more than 35,000 blind veterans and their families, spanning the Second World War to recent conflicts, including Iraq and Afghanistan.