Blind Veterans UK

In 2010, blind veteran Jamie travelled to the top of the world to take part in the North Pole Marathon. While there, he had an unexpected encounter with Sir David Attenborough, who was in the Arctic filming Frozen Planet. Sitting opposite each other in a tent on the ice, Jamie interviewed Sir David for our magazine, Review. In this archive recording, Sir David talks about filming in the polar regi...

On 22 May 2011, British forces withdrew from Iraq for the last time, marking the end of Operation Telic. To mark the 15th anniversary, we spoke to Ben, a blind veteran of the 3rd Battalion Rifles. Five days before the end of his second tour, Ben’s patrol was hit by an IED near Basra. He was 26. The injuries he sustained were catastrophic. In this episode, he talks about what happened that day, the...

In this special Remembrance 2025 podcast, two generations of veterans - Michael, a 101-year-old Second World War veteran, and Wayne, a former Royal Armoured Corps soldier - share a moving conversation about service, sacrifice, and sight loss.

The wartime heroes we support today share their powerful stories of VE Day, 80 years on.

As we mark the 10th anniversary of the end of Operation Herrick, or British operations in Afghanistan, on 12 December 2014, we speak to former frontline soldier, Rob, who was just 23 when he lost his sight in action.

In this special Remembrance 2024 podcast, four blind veterans supported by our charity, share their experiences of service and what Remembrance means to them. From World War II to the Falklands, join us in honouring their service. Learn more about our work at www.blindveterans.org.uk

As Second World War veteran Matt Mackinnon-Pattison turns 100 years old, he looks back on the best and worst of his wartime experiences in Italy when he was just 18.

In this three-part Remembrance Special, WWII veteran, Alec Penstone, shares his fascinating stories from the Second World War with our Military Lead, Tim Eckersley.

In this three-part Remembrance Special, WWII veteran, Alec Penstone, shares his fascinating stories from the Second World War with our Military Lead, Tim Eckersley.

In this three-part Remembrance Special, WWII veteran, Alec Penstone, shares his fascinating stories from the Second World War with our Military Lead, Tim Eckersley.

In this podcast, you'll hear three extracts from John's war-time memoirs, which he wrote during the pandemic at the age of 101. Unseen Stories is the podcast about different kinds of military experiences, of loss of sight and adjustment to life and new experiences as a blind person, and of being part of Blind Veterans UK.   The episodes in Unseen Stories features interviews and clips from our arch...

86-year-old blind R.A.F. veteran from Brighton, Richard Holmes, has provided a piece of music to be played alongside the 2020 Virtual Exhibition Fundraiser.

Unseen Stories is the podcast about different kinds of military experiences, of loss of sight and adjustment to life and new experiences as a blind person, and of being part of Blind Veterans UK.    The episodes in Unseen Stories features interviews and clips from our archives, as well as conversations with our current veterans.    Blind Veterans UK was founded in 1915 as the Blinded Soldiers and...

Unseen Stories is the podcast about different kinds of military experiences, of loss of sight and adjustment to life and new experiences as a blind person, and of being part of Blind Veterans UK. The episodes in Unseen Stories features interviews and clips from our archives, as well as conversations with our current veterans. Blind Veterans UK was founded in 1915 as the Blinded Soldiers and Sailor...

Unseen Stories is the podcast about different kinds of military experiences, of loss of sight and adjustment to life and new experiences as a blind person, and of being part of Blind Veterans UK. The episodes in Unseen Stories features interviews and clips from our archives, as well as conversations with our current veterans. Blind Veterans UK was founded in 1915 as the Blinded Soldiers and Sailor...

Unseen Stories is the podcast about different kinds of military experiences, of loss of sight and adjustment to life and new experiences as a blind person, and of being part of Blind Veterans UK. The episodes in Unseen Stories features interviews and clips from our archives, as well as conversations with our current veterans. Blind Veterans UK was founded in 1915 as the Blinded Soldiers and Sailor...

Unseen Stories is the podcast about different kinds of military experiences, of loss of sight and adjustment to life and new experiences as a blind person, and of being part of Blind Veterans UK. The episodes in Unseen Stories features interviews and clips from our archives, as well as conversations with our current veterans. Blind Veterans UK was founded in 1915 as the Blinded Soldiers and Sailor...

Unseen Stories is the podcast about different kinds of military experiences, of loss of sight and adjustment to life and new experiences as a blind person, and of being part of Blind Veterans UK. The episodes in Unseen Stories features interviews and clips from our archives, as well as conversations with our current veterans. Blind Veterans UK was founded in 1915 as the Blinded Soldiers and Sailor...

Listen to the first ever recorded single by Vision in Song

During Music Week at our Blind Veterans UK centre in Llandudno our blind veterans had the chance to write a song with singer and songwriter John Nicholas.  Everyone helped to contribute lyrics to create this song, 'Accept, Adapt, Achieve' which became a kind of anthem for our work as a charity.

Earlier this April we held Music Week at our Llandudno centre. It was a chance for our blind veterans to play musical instruments and record some music of their own, including this song 'The Ice Cream Man,' in partnership with singer and songwriter John Nicolas. It is the story of John and Elizabeth’s granddaughter, Molly, who had been diagnosed with a life threatening heart defect and recently un...

Television and radio presenter Johnny Ball explains how many ex-Service men and women could be receiving our support and how to get in touch.

Blind veteran Norman Perry has been supported by our charity for 75 years. Here, talking with BBC Radio Surrey, Brighton Centre Manager Lesley Garven discusses Norman's history with us. #supportthatmatters #brighton #beneficiary #veteran