Wivenhoe poet Martin Newell is looking forward to seeing you for his latest gig.

It’s a particularly apt statement because over the last five years, Martin has been going slowly blind.

Thanks to Colchester’s Lexden Road Opthalmology Unit much of his sight is now restored and so he is doing the very special show to thank the surgeons and their teams, who worked so hard to save him.

One of the area’s best-known entertainers, Martin says: “The Eye Tunes gig will be my first ever and probably only solo performance of my 1993 album, The Greatest Living Englishman.

“The album, produced by Andy Partridge of XTC, is now described widely as a rock classic and has gathered stunning notices over the years.

“I have never played the songs in order, or in their entirety before. and people from the US have already booked tickets to come and see me do it.

Performing his traditional afternoon style format of tunes, rhymes, and stories, and raising funds for and awareness of the Hospital Trust’s glaucoma service, Martin Newell: Eye Tunes is at the Colchester Arts Centre on Sunday, June 17. Tickets are available by calling 01206 500900 or on the doors, which open at 1.30pm, for a 2pm start.