John Miles, 72, has had a long relationship with Blesma following the work of his father who was instrumental in setting up the Bournemouth Branch.  John has been producing the audio version of Blesma Magazine for more than 10 years.

I first began recording the audio version in 2007, after I’d suffered kidney failure. My rehab was long and slow, and during that time I used to read the old Blesmag to my widowed mother. While reading it, I came across a request for help with the audio version and it made me think that doing something for people whose problems I understood well would help me, as well as benefit them.

At first, he recorded the magazine onto cassettes. The magazine was about 80 pages back then and he wondered how anyone could listen to him for six hours!  John now produces the audio version on CD rather than tape and he does the copying and distribution himself. 

Computer software allows me to make all kinds of edits, which makes things easier. I then print and burn the discs which takes about three hours. I also record, produce and distribute the Bulletin and the War Widows’ Association magazine, Courage.

A LIFE LIVED WITH THE ASSOCIATION 

John had been around Blesma all his life. John's father lost his foot after stepping on a landmine in the North African Desert in 1942 and developed gangrene. After his injury, he had two further amputations and ended up an above-knee amputee. He was Bournemouth’s Branch Secretary for many years.   John said, "my first involvement with the magazine came in the early fifties".  All the copies for Bournemouth were delivered to my parents and we mailed them out. My mother typed the labels and I wrapped them and stuck the stamps on. Sadly, my father died in 1992, and six years later my mother, now 98, moved from Bournemouth into residential care close to our home in Kettering.

CHANGING TO STAY RELEVANT

Blesma has changed a lot over the years. It used to be very Branch based, fighting for pensions and benefits. It’s different now, but Blesma still focuses on the same issues; fighting for the rights of Members but they are fewer in number and scattered across the country. The Activities Programme brings them together in groups to challenge themselves and to experience the camaraderie of life in the Forces again.

It’s still about Member helping Member but now it’s updated to the 21st Century.

Sometimes, I get some lovely feedback; I just heard from a lady who was over the moon to start getting the audio magazine. That’s always nice to hear, although it will be a bit odd having to read this article about myself out loud for the next issue!

If you are interested in receiving an audio version of the magazine, or know someone who might, please contact your Blesma Support Officer