Interview lightweight plastic prosthetics . With the aid of these cumbersome artificial legs , Roy was able to get back to work at the National Westminster Bank in London ’ s Covent Garden , travelling by train and doing strenuous daily walks on them from , over Waterloo Bridge and into the City . “ It probably helped that I ’ d started cycling in them straight away , to strengthen the muscles ” says Roy , “ but when I think back now , I do wonder how on earth I did it .” After a while , though , the London commute became just too much , and Roy was re-located by the bank to a branch nearer to home in Surrey . In 1948 he married a fellow bank employee Barbara , and together they shared the adventure of buying a plot of land and having their own home built .
Island escape
After many years of happily working at the bank , in 1973 , Roy began to have circulation problems in his left leg stump , and that led to a further amputation that took it to the same level as the right leg . Then aged 48 , he decided it was time for a life review , and by mutual agreement with the bank , he took early retirement . Not only that , but he and Barbara took the chance to create a completely new life at Seaview on the Isle of Wight . “ I ’ d had one week ’ s holiday here and thought how lovely and peaceful it was ” he says . “ I saw the Seaview Regatta , the lovely Solent views and just loved it ”. “ I had one day here in the summer and found a house I liked at Solent View Road – right up on the hill with lots of steps up to it . My wife came up and said : “ Quite impractical !” However , they compromised on a house on the flat part of Solent View Road , and quickly settled into their new life , Barbara taking a part-time job and Roy quickly throwing himself into charity work . He was treasurer of the local Cancer Research Campaign group for 22 years , was a member of Ryde Lions for 15 years ( including a term as President ) and was an active bowls player until two years ago at Bembridge Bowls Club . But by far , the cause that ’ s been closest to his heart is Blesma , the organisation that has helped him so much over the past 70 years . He was its local treasurer for many years and remains Chairman to this day . Whilst membership numbers are now obviously diminishing , the Island group still runs some social occasions and offers help and support to the widows of service personnel . Now widowed himself – Barbara sadly died three years ago – Roy continues to live in their original Seaview home , and says : “ I ’ m told it ’ s a good thing that I have a house with stairs ! I don ’ t walk as much as I used to so it ’ s good to have some stairs to climb at least .” He also still drives – in fact , he had his licence renewed again last year - and enjoys the freedom of being able to get about and see people in his adapted Honda Jazz . Always able to see the funny side , Roy recalls with a chuckle how the first motorised vehicle he drove as an amputee was a motorcycle – with a sidecar for Barbara ! Hardly the safest or most predictable option , but then that ’ s pretty much how Roy has gone about things . He can also joke about the leg ‘ malfunctions ’ that have happened to him over the years – such as the time a foot dropped off while he was playing bowls . “ I had to phone my wife and say ‘ bring me a leg ’ … we had a spare in the loft ” he says , with almost comical matter-of-factness .
“ I had to phone my wife and say ‘ bring me a leg ’ … we had a spare in the loft ”
Lord Lieutenant General Martin White with Roy at the 2016 Blesma function . Picture by Michael Dunkason
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