The Countess of Wessex opened Blind Veterans’ new facility

Today (28th February), The Countess of Wessex opened Blind Veterans new facility at their Llandudno centre in Wales supporting blind and limbless veterans to learn vital “life skills”. This was HRH’s first act as Blind Veterans new patron, after HM The Queen at the end of her 90th birthday year, has stepped down as patron from a number of national organisations.

© Blind Veterans UK via Facebook feed – click on pic to be redirected

After press release: Built in partnership between Blesma, The Limbless Veterans and Blind Veterans UK, this new “Life Skills” building will provide veterans who have lost their sight, limbs, or both, a rehabilitation environment to support essential skills for independent living. The facility will have a particular focus on supporting those who may be at risk of becoming homeless.

© Blind Veterans UK via Facebook feed – click on pic to be redirected

All of the accommodation has been designed to integrate seamless adaptations to support physical disability whilst providing a realistic home environment. Veterans are able to stay in the accommodation for stays of up to six months. This provides an opportunity to reassess their needs, make relevant adjustments, and give recommendations for ongoing community interventions.

© The Royal Family via Twitter feed

A majority of the building’s funds were generously gifted to the charity by the Veterans Accommodation Fund. The Masonic Charitable Foundation, Lloyd’s Patriotic Fund, Lady Forester Trust and Lord Neverhulme’s Charitable Trust also contributed.

© The Royal Family via Twitter feed

Blind Veterans CEO, Major General (Rtd) Nick Caplin CB, said: “This fantastic new building, and our Rehabilitation Team, will offer specialist bespoke life skills programmes which focus on mental wellbeing, career options, communication skills and health and fitness promotion.”

© Blind Veterans UK via Facebook feed – click on pic to be redirected

The need for the building and programme was demonstrated after the charity commissioned King’s Centre for Military Health Research to examine mental health and social well-being of younger ex-Service personnel with vision-impairment. The report concluded that younger ex-Service men and women struggled not only with how to adjust to their sight loss, but also how to cope with other losses, such as loss of employment and independence.

© Blind Veterans UK via Facebook feed – click on pic to be redirected

Blind Veterans UK charity is very excited both that this building is now open, and that they have had the opportunity and honour to welcome, in person, Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex as their Patron. For more visit Charity Today, click here.

via Royal Family Facebook feed

Royal Family added via Facebook: “A special thank you to Bill, 74, from County Durham, who is a regular visitor to the Blind Veterans UK centre in Llandudno. He had been a wood turner since 1959 but stopped when he lost his sight. Bill has since been trained by Blind Veterans UK staff to use a lathe again and continues to be an extremely talented Master Craftsman. He presented The Countess of Wessex with a handmade pen that he turned himself as well as three other pens for her family.”

Outfit & jewellery
Jacket seen on many occasions, remains UFO.
Skirt, I believe a version of VICTORIA BECKHAM Textured woven midi skirt.
Solid gold hoop earrings – seen before but remain UFO.
Hermes Constance charm in rose gold set with 65 diamonds..
Skagen Ladies’ Nicoline Refined Watch.
New clutch, not sure by whom.
Daffodil – to mark St David’s Day celebrated in Wales on the 1st of March.
GIANVITO ROSSI Bari 85 patent-leather court shoes in pale pink.

Reception for Rochester Cathedral Trust

Yesterday in the evening, on the 22nd February, The Countess as Patron of Rochester Cathedral Trust, attended a Reception at Mercers Hall in London. HRH became Trust’s Patron in March 2013. Currently Rochester Cathedral Trust is raising money for the Cathedral and it’s Music Endowment. The Trust is in need to replace a sinking fund so that they can continue to provide their excellent music tradition. In order to do so, the Trust will be organizing series of fundraising concerts. You will learn more details here.

photo courtesy of Rochester Cathedral – click on pic to be redirected to view full gallery

Update after Rochester Cathedral via Facebook: “We were delighted to have the Children’s Community Choir sing at a fund raising Reception held in The Mercers’ Hall in London on 22nd February and attended by HRH The Countess of Wessex. They charmed us all! Our host was Mr Johnny Robertson, The Master of the Mercers’ Company with our Dean, Philip Hesketh, and Chairman of the Cathedral Trust Michael Aiken. The Choir was conducted by Claire Innes-Hopkins and accompanied by Scott Farrell.”

photo courtesy of Bruce Bell via Twitter

The Countess of Wessex as Patron of Shooting Star Chase, was also due to held a Dinner at Buckingham Palace. However that event was cancelled.

Outfit & jewellery:
Roksanda Contrast-cuff Crepe dress.
Hermes Constance charm in rose gold set with 65 diamonds..
Solid gold hoop earrings – seen before but remain UFO.
Skagen Ladies’ Nicoline Refined Watch.
Sophie Habsburg Design bag called Moneypenny in burgundy.
GIANVITO ROSSI Bari 85 patent-leather court shoes in pale pink. 

The Countess & Duke of Kent attend Gala performance of ‘The Girls’ Musical in support of Bloodwise charity

Today (20th February), The Countess of Wessex attended a Gala performance of ‘The Girls‘ Musical, at the Phoenix Theatre in London. HRH attended the event as a Member of Bagshot Women’s Institute. Sophie was joined by The Duke of Kent, Patron of Bloodwise. The event was in aid of Bloodwise – charity that funds world-class research and offers expert information and support to anyone affected by leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and other blood cancer related disorders.

© The Royal Family via Twitter

‘The Girls’ is the true story of the Yorkshire CALENDAR GIRLS a group of ordinary ladies who achieved something extraordinary. This musical comedy has brought together the writing talents of Gary Barlow and Tim Firth who grew up in the same village in the North of England and have been friends for 25 years. The Girls originally opened at The Grand Theatre in Leeds where it received standing ovations at every performance.

© Bloodwise via Twitter. Sophie with original “Calendar Girls’ – HRH met them for the first time at a garden party at Buckingham Palace in honour of the centenary of the Women’s Institute in 2015. Post here.

Story of Calendar Girls was first adapted to screen in 2003, when Nigel Cole directed a movie under the same title, starring Helen Mirren, Julie Walters, Linda Bassett, Annette Crosbie, Celia Imrie, Penelope Wilton and Geraldine James. Movie was based on a true story of a group of Yorkshire women who produced a nude calendar to raise money for Leukaemia Research under the auspices of the Women’s Institutes in April 1999. They decided to raise money, after one member of Woman’s Institute, Annie Clarke, has lost her husband – John to leukaemia.

© The Royal Family via Twitter

Today’s event was also attended by creators of “The Girls” Musical – Gary Barlow and Tim Firth. Also attending were: Graham Norton, Mel Giedroyc and Phillip Schofield. A little bit more about ‘original’ Calendar Girls can be found at The Daily Mail, here. The review of the musical can be found here. I haven’t seen the musical as it’s not available where I live, but I cannot recommend enough The ‘Calendar Girls’ – the movie – it truly is worth watching. Images of the event can be found here, in The Sun article here. Also at Facebook of ‘The Girls’ Musical – here.

Outfit & jewellery:
VALENTINO Draped cowl-neck wool and silk-blend dress.
SOFIA PEAR DROP EARRINGS IN GREEN AMETHYST MIX (top in lemon quartz) by Pomegranate London.
Hermes Constance charm in rose gold set with 65 diamonds.
Sophie also wore sunflower on her dress –  The character of John, both in movie & musical, referenced to the beauty of an older woman to the beauty of the sunflower (his favourite flower), which later became the symbol of ‘Calendar Girls’ cause.
Clutch bag, first seen at Craft Guild of Chefs Awards by Fendi.
Dior assymetric pointed-toe pump in black suede with graded heel. 

Meeting at Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre in Marlow

Yesterday, (1st of February), The Countess of Wessex as Patron of England Hockey attended a meeting at Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre in Marlow. Upon her arrival to the centre, The Countess was greeted by England Hockey Chief Executive Sally Munday and Commercial and Membership Director Jon Cockcroft, who took Sophie on a tour of the centre of excellence.

photo courtesy of England Hockey

Bisham Abbey is one of Sport England’s National Sports Centres and is home to a number of National Governing Bodies of Sport. According to the website, Bisham Abbey provides excellent facilities to Britain’s leading sports men and women, and aims to provide a world class experience.

photo courtesy of England Hockey

As Daily Mail wrote in its article from yesterday, ‘The centre of excellence plays a huge role in the success of the English hockey teams, something that reaped rewards for the women’s squad in Rio last year, when they snatched the gold medal from the the Dutch in a thrilling final’.

photo courtesy of England Hockey

At the centre The Countess met with young England hockey players including: Emily Defroand, Suzy Petty, Kathryn Lane, Luke Taylor and Liam Ansell. HRH listened to their stories. Sophie also admired a photo of the gold medal-winning women’s hockey team, who triumphed in Rio last summer. For more pictures visit Daily Mail – here.

Outfit & jewellery:
Prada leather jacket in black.
GABRIELA HEARST Freddie merino-wool skirt.
I think Hermes Constance charm in rose gold set with 65 diamonds..
New to me, solid gold hoop earrings.
Sophie Habsburg Design handbag, ERZFANNY Petite in black.
LK Bennett Belle boots.