Adrian Neat
Ex-Royal Engineer, Adrian Neat is a man with a real passion for life - from his fledgling woodturning business to his prowess as an archer. However, it wasn't always like this. Back in 1999 when he was 33 years old, Adrian heard some news that changed his life completely...
"At the beginning, I didn't think anything of it. I started tripping over things. I thought it was nothing at first - you know, just me being clumsy. At worse, I might need glasses. However, a visit to the doctor revealed I had lost 87 per cent of my sight through Retinosa Pigmentosa. In my case, this means that I have very limited tunnel vision and the doctor told me straight away that I was not to drive myself home from the surgery."
When he received the news, Adrian was still serving with the Army and expected to be discharged immediately. However, the Army did not want to lose him and did all it could to accommodate his condition, so that he was able to serve for another eight years.
"I was angry and struggling to come to terms with my blindness."
Blindness is devastating for anyone, and many people experience feelings of frustration and even anger at having their world taken away from them. Adrian was no different. "To be honest, it shattered my life. I went into denial at the time. I was too proud to use a cane and wouldn't dream of having a guide dog. It wasn't until I was put in touch with St Dunstan's that I started to rebuild my life. St Dunstan's made me realise I could still get so much out of life."
We appreciate that arriving at our National Centre in Ovingdean, East Sussex, can be a daunting experience. That is why we do everything we possibly can to make each blind ex-Service man and woman feel that this is a home from home. "It was during my induction with St Dunstan's that I discovered I wasn't the only angry blind man in the world. St Dunstan's made me realise I could still enjoy many of the things I did before and gave me confidence to try new things." In fact, after showing a keen interest in woodturning, we invited Adrian back for five days of training with our Craft Department Manager, Sarah Jarron.
These first days at St Dunstan's were only the beginning of Adrian's experience of woodturning. He had a real flair for the craft and we wondered whether he would like to continue with it at home. His answer was a resounding, Yes! "I jumped at the chance. This was my big opportunity to find a whole new direction in life. I'd already spoken to a few people and there was a lot of interest in purchasing my work."
"St Dunstan's has helped to change my whole outlook on the world."
To help Adrian continue his hobby at home, we built a shed for him in his garden which he now uses as a workshop and to store his equipment. This was only possible thanks to the donations from our supporters, so it really does show the life-changing work that people can make possible for St Dunstaners.
Wooden goblet produced by Adrian Neat
Adrian's words speak volumes: "St Dunstan's has not only helped me regain my independence, but through the support they've given me, I'm in a far better place psychologically than I was before. The training courses and sessions which cover the various stages of coming to terms with sight loss have helped to change my whole outlook on life. I've also been able to share my experiences with like-minded people who understand me. In particular, my Rehabilitation & Training Support Worker has been an inspiration. Thanks to help from St Dunstan's I'm now turning a hobby into a vocation!"
Nowadays Adrian walks around with the confidence of someone who has sight, and is an example of how blind people can lead very happy, independent lives.