A model of the Titanic painstakingly created by a sight-impaired Fife army veteran is about to embark on a journey around the world.  Seventy-three-year-old Bernard Matthews spent a year building the scale model from various materials, including polystyrene, cotton, wire, clay, metallic sheets and around 1000 pins.

Sean Szmalc, director of Titanic Honour and Glory Ltd, said he was honoured to add the piece to his touring exhibition.  “When I started this project I didn’t realise this would take off on such a large scale,” said Bernard.

He was inspired to begin the model after Sean visited the Linburn Centre to give a talk on the legendary ship to the charity’s veterans.  The model is built to a 1:279 scale and in memory of those who lost their lives in the sinking, it also features tiny cut-outs of passengers who were photographed on the Titanic before she set sail on her tragic voyage.

He said: “We had to get drawings of the ship at different angles and look at how to reduce it to a scale model from start to finish. Then I just focused on a bit at a time. It was a bit tricky.  “I had to use a big magnifier light to work on it. I can see, but not very well.”

Bernard, a former army cook with the Army Catering Corps who served from 1963 to 1966, joined Scottish War Blinded five years ago.  He now lives close to the Linburn Centre, attending regularly to take part in the various activities on offer to veterans with sight loss.

Titanic enthusiast Sean works with schools, galleries and museums across the world to tell the history of the Titanic.  He can’t wait to show the model to the public and share Bernard’s story.  Sean said: “I have contacts at two of the world’s largest Titanic exhibitions – the Titanic Exhibition in Branson, Missouri, and the exhibition in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. We are hoping to have the model exhibited in the United States for the rest of the year.”

Crafty veteran Bernard is already back to work on another project – a scratch model of the Queensferry Crossing.  Scottish War Blinded supports former servicemen and women of all ages, no matter if they lost their sight during or after service.

Visit www.scottishwarblinded.org.

very talented veterans who visit the centre and take part in the art room activities.  “The Titanic project has been an adventure, working out all the different technical elements and picking out all the finest details of the ship. It would be challenging for anyone.  “Whenever we’ve had visitors at the centre, they’ve been wowed by the model. It’s been really nice to see people’s reactions.”