2020
The Blesma News for 2020 covering news, activities and fundraising events for limbless veterans.
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Letters page: George Watson
2 November 2020
I read in a recent copy of Blesma magazine that about 4% of Blesma Members are over the age of 90. As I am 97 years old, it prompted me to share my story. During the early part of WWII (between 1939 and 1941) I worked in John Brown’s Shipyard in Clydebank, near Glasgow. In wartime, the job was classed as a reserved occupation which meant you could not be called up for the Armed Forces. Most young men were anxious to join the Forces and I was no different. In 1941, I left the shipyards and started work as a locomotive engineer in the local gas works knowing full well
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Blesma Member Giles Duley talks to LadBible
31 October 2020
Blesma Member Giles Duley has recently spoken to The Lad Bible about his experience in photographing war zones, overcoming his injuries, and how they have helped in relate to the people who's stories he tells... This is the story of humanitarian photographer Giles Duley, one of the few Blesma Members to have never been in the military. He was interviewed for Blesma Magazine in 2016. Giles Duley was an acclaimed fashion and music photographer before he changed direction to focus on documenting humanitarian projects and disasters around the world. Then, in 2011,
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The Breakfast Club - It’s been called ‘the most memorable hour spent during lockdown’. Fancy trying it?
29 October 2020
The year 2020 will go down as the one in which the world truly went online. Stuck at home in lockdown, everyone has had to improvise, adapt and overcome when it’s come to staying connected. Blesma has been no exception, shifting a huge number of its activities into the virtual realm. One of the most successful has been a link up between Members and residents of the Royal Hospital Chelsea; the world-famous Chelsea Pensioners. A Blesma/Royal Hospital connection existed before lockdown, with a number of meetings at the wonderful building in London having already been arranged. But after
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Remembrance Day Statement from Blesma
27 October 2020
Remembrance Day is an important time to pause and reflect on the sacrifices of those who have served and, although we cannot attend the Cenotaph this year, we will still remember them. We know that our Members, veterans, their families and the nation will pause and reflect wherever they are at 11 am on November 11, to remember and honour the fallen. Blesma is also supporting veterans with the Remembrance 11K, a nationwide virtual event commencing on Remembrance Sunday which will see us come together to commemorate, and to support those who came home injured. Ours is an
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