The guests at the Dinner in the Dark event at Heritage Grange
The event in Upper Lighthorne was attended by Cllr Mark Cargill, Chairman of Stratford-upon-Avon District Council, in addition to Emma Hills, Community Champion for the consortium of housebuilders at the development.
Guests were encouraged to enjoy a three-course lunch whilst wearing a blindfold to raise awareness of those living with visual impairments. In attendance from the Guide Dogs were volunteers Anita and Derek Burdekin, alongside Derek’s guide dog, named Zelda.
Hosts from David Wilson Homes included Technical Director Paul Smith and Sales Adviser Paul Mulhall, and everyone at the dinner was able to learn of Derek’s experience, having lost his sight at the age of 42 as a result of a heart attack.
Derek said: “For many years I experienced great difficulty accepting the consequences of sight loss and I was totally dependent on my wife Anita.
“Zelda has been a life changer and has given me the confidence to go out on my own and have companionship.
“We were pleased to be invited to the event and the discussions held proved useful and enlightening.”
Following the event, David Wilson Homes is also donating £1,500 to the charity to support its work, which will go towards the services of volunteers in helping thousands of people with sight loss to lead confident, independent and fulfilling lives.
The contribution is made as part of the Barratt Developments Plc Charitable Foundation, which is designed to support national and local charities, large and small, across the UK to leave a legacy in the communities in which the housebuilder operates.

Cllr Cargill said: “I wish to thank David Wilson Homes for the opportunity to experience, even if only for a short time, what people with visual impairment go through every day. You soon realise how much you rely on others for even the simplest of things, just to get through the day.

“As Derek mentioned, Zelda has become a vital part of his life, giving him confidence, independence and companionship.

“The Guide Dogs for the Blind is a marvellous organisation with equally marvellous volunteers and deserves all the support it can get.”

David Wilson Homes’ Heritage Grange development on Banbury Road is in close proximity of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association’s Midlands Regional Centre in Leamington Spa.

Paul Smith, Technical Director at David Wilson Homes Mercia, said: “We are thrilled to have supported the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association in raising awareness for its work and we hope everyone enjoyed the event at Heritage Grange.

“It was fantastic to have Derek in attendance to discuss his experiences and give us all a new perspective on life with a visual impairment. It was a brilliant event and we hope to continue our close relationship with the charity in the future.”

To help those living with visual impairments, it costs £34,600 to breed and train a single guide dog and a total of £54,800 to support a guide dog from birth to retirement.

To learn more about the services of the charity, visit the website at The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.