Blind grandpa and army veteran makes ukulele from scratch as hobby

army veteran blind grandpa ukulele hobby

By Veronica Chan , Parent Herald Jul 28, 11:49 pm

A 74-year-old Army veteran from Somerset, Haydn Callow, has developed a new hobby due to the lockdown. The legally blind grandpa assembles ukuleles from scratch.

Haydn said that he has always dreamed of playing the ukelele. However, no matter how hard he tries, he could not get the hang of it, making him believe that he is not that musical.

A hidden talent

The grandfather of six discovered his hidden talent after purchasing a DIY ukulele kit from eBay. He found that his true aptitude is not in playing the said instrument, but in assembling it.

Haydn explained that he was not that good at first, but he gets better with each new piece. He shared how fantastic and fun it is to put a ukelele together because it does not take that long. Since his teacher bought one of his masterpieces, he believes that his work is not that bad.

(Photo : Blind Veterans UK)

To hone his niche craft, Haydn called a Derbyshire professional luthier and ordered woods. He bought a variety of exotic woods like pink ivory and American walnut. He would use them as the basis of his homemade ukuleles.

Served in the army

At the age of 16, Haydn enlisted in the Royal Army Dental Corps. He served for 22 years in the British Army, touring Brunei, Germany, Northern Ireland, and Bahrain.

A rare disease caused him legal blindness

In his early fifties, Haydn was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a rare genetic disorder. The condition caused a gradual decline in his peripheral vision, ultimately leading to his state of legal blindness. He said that with severe tunnel vision in both eyes, he has more challenges in his new hobby. But he said that all it needs is getting used to it.

Haydn is a member of the Blind Veterans UK, a charity founded by Sir Arthur Pearson in 1915. The charity was built to give visually impaired veterans of World War One rehab. After a century, it has assisted more than 15,000 ex-servicemen and women.

Support from Blind Veterans UK

The Somerset resident said that it is great knowing that they have support when they need it. Throughout the year, the charity keeps in touch with the members. Haydn knows that it is only a phone call away when his vision further declines.

Blind Veterans UK have kept their lines open with their members after the pandemic happened. It has linked with volunteer groups to help their members with their shopping. Ninety percent of which are aged 70 and up.

Nicky Shaw, Blind Veterans UK Director of Operations, said that there is so much to help the blind veterans. They help their members maintain physical and emotional well being so that they could feel safe, reassured, and cared for during the hard times.