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PUBLISHED - 6th October 2026
Thanks to the glowing reviews and touching comments we get from our holidaymakers, we know that Torch Together holidays offer a real lifeline and an opportunity for respite for people with sight loss across the UK. But we wanted to find out more about what keeps people coming back so we spoke with Rosemary Mawson who has been a holiday regular for several years now.
Rosemary has experienced a deteriorating sight condition, as she explained to our Marketing and Communications Coordinator Zoë Byron: ‘I’ve had glaucoma for 28 years. For the first 20, I was looked after by the eye clinic at Milton Keynes hospital but then we had the lockdown with the pandemic. My eyes got worse during lockdown, but glaucoma is silent so you don’t know what it’s doing. I finally got in front of a specialist and my sight had gone, which wouldn’t have happened if I had still been seen every three months. I’ve got a small amount of sight in one eye. My church fell to pieces when my pastor died during the Covid pandemic and no one was there to care for me. I was asking God “why me?”’
Rosemary told us how having glaucoma had a massive effect on her life and the things she was passionate about: ‘I used to do so much, dressing for pantomimes and making clothes. My son said I need to let the sewing machine go. My daughter is now looking after the sewing machine. So I can’t do these things any more, I can’t thread a needle. [Having glaucoma] was a huge life-changer and Torch has helped so much!’
We asked Rosemary what the first Torch services she had used were: ‘I was introduced to the talking Bible and books from Torch. Then I heard about the holidays. My first holiday in Poole, I felt like a little girl showing up alone. I walked into this room full of people who were all warm and lovely. The atmosphere was stunning.
We had a lovely service and I was there as a bit of an onlooker. The warmth coming from the people with sight problems, people younger than me, or people with worse sight than me, and so on, did me so good. By the end of the week I… felt like a completely new person.’
Since that first holiday, Rosemary has become a frequent guest on Torch Together trips: ‘Going onto the holidays now I feel like I’m coming home, everyone’s warm and welcoming and chatting. I love it. I have relaxed into the morning services and even this year managed to pray aloud, which was quite a big thing.
I can’t thank Torch enough as they have given me my life back. It’s from the holidays that I learnt about my local Torch Group and now I go each month. I was asked to join their committee. I said I’d be as much use as a chocolate teapot, I can’t use the internet or things like that. They said “but you can talk!” I’m now on the serving committee.’
We asked Rosemary what has changed for her over the last few years: ‘Torch has helped me accept what has happened to me and the eye clinic treated me like the Queen of England after they accepted what they did. They look after me so well and now I only see the consultant. Spiritually, the holidays have given me my faith back. I was cross but am not cross any more.’
And does Rosemary have any plans for further Torch holidays? Absolutely! She’ll be on our festive holiday: ‘I could go to my daughter’s for Christmas but it’s very noisy and is a danger for me with children, toddlers, dogs, toys so I stay here, but I miss church. And I miss the spiritual side of Christmas so I’m looking forward to the Torch Christmas holiday.’
We wish Rosemary a fantastic time on her next holiday and, if you feel able to, we welcome all contributions to our bursary fund which helps people who otherwise wouldn’t be able to, attend a Torch holiday. Please contact Client Services to find out how to donate to this fund.
It is with great sadness that we mourn the death of our dear friend and trustee of Torch Trust Malawi, Rose Chaponda. Rose served as a trustee for many years, including as Chair. She brought great wisdom, experience and care for people to her role, and we were so grateful for all that she gave […]
Read moreIf you want to know more about sending braille Bibles across the world, please head to the Compass Braille website: compassbraille.org To find out more about the work of Torch Trust, you are in the right place! Have a look around to see what else we do…
Read moreWe are deeply saddened by the tragic events at Big Church Festival. Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been injured, their families and friends, and everyone affected by what has happened. We are also praying for the festival organisers, emergency services and all those who have been working to care for people […]
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