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You may already know Victor Clubley and not even realise it. In fact, you may even have taken on the 72-year-old in deadly mano-e-mano combat.
You may already know Victor Clubley and not even realise it. In fact, you may even have taken on the 72-year-old in deadly mano-e-mano combat.
That would be on the Fortnite Island - where he’s better known under the name of his alter ego Colonel Bling.
Because when it comes to online gaming, age is no barrier for this former soldier.
Victor, who served for nine years as a radio operator in the Royal Artillery, was introduced to the online gaming world by members of KCOM’s customer engagement team who hold regular drop-in sessions at the Pickering and Ferens Homes housing scheme at Ada Homes Circle, north Hull, where he lives.
After a few nudges in the right direction, web-wise Victor was up-and-running and using his laptop to do online shopping as well as play games such as Fortnite and Call of Duty online.
“I can’t just sit around doing nothing, I’m always on the go,” says the grandfather-of-five who also collects money for the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.
“When I was l looking something to do after retiring, a friend said ‘why don’t you research your family tree online?’ That was the start of learning to use the web. I spent two and a half years doing that and managed to get all the way back to 1603. Since I came to Ada Holmes Circle the KCOM team have been helping me out when I wanted to do something new. Being online opens up whole new worlds for you.”
Most recently, Victor has upgraded to a PS4 and enjoys playing games including Grand Turismo and Elder Scrolls Online.
“Elder Scrolls is a good one,” says Victor. “It’s based in a fantasy world where you ride horses and have to fight dragons, wild wolves and bears with an attitude. It’s all good fun. I play online with a friend of mine. I’m only at level 14 but I think she’s got to about level 200.”
The former lance bombardier may have experienced army life for real, but he says he still enjoys taking part in the odd Call of Duty: Black Ops mission alongside his grandson Joseph.
“We go on missions together. I have my headset on and he’s got his at home and we talk to each other while fighting the enemy. He usually beats me but, you know, the fingers don’t move as quickly as they used to. Plus, he’s practised a lot more.”