A WORCESTER man who found love again after meeting his wife through a charity, says he is looking forward to the couple's first anniversary this Easter.

Walter Exall, 89, a blind veteran, and wife Helen married in April last year after meeting at one of Blind Veterans UK's reunion lunches.

Mr Exall, an ex-Royal Signalman, was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration in 2001, which slowly robbed him of his sight.

In 2013, after visiting the Worcester Sight Concern group, he found out about the support available from Blind Veterans UK.

Just one month after starting to receive support, he attended a lunch event arranged by the charity.

“I had just wanted to go and have a nice lunch and meet other veterans in the area," Mr Exall said.

"When I got there, my welfare officer Rachel sat me next to Helen and told her to look after me, and she did just that.

"We hit it off and things have just developed from there.”

Mrs Exall was in contact with the charity after her late veteran husband John was supported after he lost his sight.

When John passed away eight years ago, Helen continued to receive support from the charity, attending social events.

“Blind Veterans UK has really changed my life," Mrs Exall said.

"I was becoming quite lonely, so it’s almost as if Walter came along at just the right time. We hit it off straight away, and we’re still going strong now.”

After regularly contacting each other, the pair went on holiday together to Blind Veterans UK’s centre in Brighton in 2014, when they got engaged.

Mr Exall said: “I decided that I would ask her to marry me. In front of about 100 people in the lounge, I asked her and she said ‘no’.

"I waited half an hour and asked her again but she said ‘no’, then I asked again and she said ‘yes’ – so it was third time lucky.

"We’re really looking forward to celebrating our first year together as husband and wife, it’ll be a very special time.

“I have a lot to thank Blind Veterans UK for. After I lost my first wife in 2013, the charity helped me get my confidence back, and I’ve got a new life altogether now."

Blind Veterans UK is the national charity for blind and vision impaired ex-service men and women, providing vital practical and emotional support to help veterans discover life beyond sight loss.

For more details visit on the charity visit noonealone.org.uk.