Tell us a bit about you?
My name is Nick Devlin, and I am 60 years old. I am happily married and have two sons. My eldest is a PhD physicist currently working at Liverpool University, while my youngest is studying at Wrexham University. My wife is a volunteer Production Manager who plays a key role in bringing performances to life at The Little Theatre in Rhyl. If you are ever in the area, I highly recommend catching a show they are fantastic!
Tell us about the time you served, what rank you achieved and if you left the Corps, why did you leave?
I served in the British Army from 1983 to 1989 as a Lance Corporal and worked as a Radio Relay Operator. During my service, I was stationed at 22 Signal Regiment in Lippstadt and 1 ADSR in Verden, both located in Germany. After completing six years of service, I decided to pursue a career in the Royal Air Force. I left the Army with that goal in mind and successfully joined the RAF just over a year later.
What circumstances led to you needing our assistance?
For the past 20 years until my recent loss of sight I have worked as an SDH (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy) and DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing) engineer, specialising in fibre optic transmission projects across the globe.
Unfortunately, I developed a viral infection in my right eye, which caused severe pain and extreme sensitivity to light leaving me partially blind. As a result, I needed to stay in a dark environment. Because of my condition I had lost my job and had been unemployed for six months. I reached out to SSAFA for assistance, requesting dark glasses and window blinds to help manage my light sensitivity. The Royal Signals Charity generously stepped in and provided me with these essential items, which made a significant difference in my daily life.
How did our assistance help you? What positives came from it?
The window blinds provided by the charity allowed me to control the lighting in my home, enabling me to move freely around the house instead of being confined to my bedroom all day. This has greatly improved my comfort, well-being, and overall quality of life.
Do you have fond memories of the Corps? Any funny stories?
I have many great memories of my time in the Royal Signals and formed great friendships.
One particularly memorable (and slightly embarrassing) moment happened during a survival exercise in Germany. My colleague and I had built a makeshift tent for the night, but as it started raining, I experienced a night terror, convinced we were under attack. In my panic, I bolted dragging the entire tent with me! My poor tentmate was left lying there, completely exposed to the elements, with no idea what had just happened. Thankfully, he saw the funny side of it the next morning, though I have to admit, it was a bit mortifying at the time!
I am incredibly grateful to the Royal Signals Charity for their support during a challenging time. Their generosity made my life significantly easier, and I truly appreciate everything they have done for me.
Thank you.
N Devlin
