AN ESSEX choir made up of blind veterans has made its debut performance at The Lawn in Rochford.

Vision In Song, whose members have an average age of 85, perform an assortment of numbers from war-time classics to patriotic anthems and jazz hits.

They meet weekly for rehearsals where they are supported by choir mistress Jane Gould, accordion player Margaret Hunter and volunteer Reg Morris.

The men hail from across Essex including Basildon, Maldon, Chelmsford, Harwich and Halstead. Vision in Song was born after Danny Williams, 77, told his community team leader Jennie Hammond, of charity Blind Veterans UK, how much he desired to sing again.

Jennie Hammond was paying a home visit to 77-year-old Danny Williams when he told her of his desire to sing again.

She said: “I was really moved by Danny’s story.

“His great love was singing, but when he lost his sight he was unable to be accommodated by his old choir.

“I made it my mission to make sure he could sing as part of a choir group again.”

Danny added: “Words cannot express how much joy Vision In Song has given me and I’m so thankful to Jennie and Blind Veterans UK for making it happen.”

Basildon’s Ted Cruse, 81, is another of the choir members. The former Royal Artillery wireless operator sang at the Queen’s coronation at Westminster Abbey as a choir boy.

At the age of 62, he was diagnosed with glaucoma and now has just one per cent vision in one eye and six per cent in the other.

He said: “Vision In Song has given all of us a chance to sing again when we thought we never would. There is a real sense of camaraderie in the group and we all really look forward to rehearsals.”

The next performance will be on September 14 at Aldwickbury Golf Club in Harpenden, Hertfordshire. For more information, visit blindveterans.org.uk