BLIND veteran Kenneth Winstanley is to march at the Cenotaph in London on Remembrance Sunday with the charity Blind Veterans UK.

Kenneth, 82, from Ashton-Under-Lyne, will be marching at the Cenotaph as part of the national Remembrance Sunday commemorations with more than 100 other blind veterans supported by Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.

Kenneth joined the Royal Air Force in 1956 and was stationed in Ternhill and Wilmslow.

He was discharged in 1958, attaining the rank Senior Aircraftman. When leaving the forces he joined a large wholesale textile company before becoming company director of a small company which sold children’s clothes to specialist retail companies.

He said: “My whole career involved a lot of driving and when I lost my sight my licence was taken away from me straight away. As driving was such a big part of my life, it was a massive blow.”

Kenneth lost his sight in 2016 due to macular degeneration. Fortunately he found out about Blind Veterans UK and started receiving support from the charity in 2017.

He added: “A friend of mine was already a member and told me about the charity.

“I attended the induction week at their training and rehabilitation centre in Llandudno where I was taught how to cope in the kitchen and with other household things that you struggle with when you lose your sight.”

The charity has supplied Kenneth with a number of pieces of equipment such as a mobile phone and a magnifying glass which he takes with him to do his shopping.

He said: “Blind Veterans UK has been a godsend. They are an incredible organisation and what they have done for me is unbelievable.”

Since joining the charity, Kenneth now volunteers and tries to raise funds for the organisation by carrying collection tins around the Manchester area.

He said: “It’s important to raise funds and raise awareness of the charity – I just want to give something back.”

This year several Specsavers stores will be raising money for Blind Veterans UK by donating £1 from every sight test in the week leading up to Remembrance Sunday.

Specsavers has supported Blind Veterans UK since 2012 and, as well as raising money for the charity, have referred a number of customers to them so they can access its support.

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Kenneth will be marching with 100 other blind veterans at the Cenotaph this Remembrance Sunday. He said: “This is my first time marching at the Cenotaph, and I am honoured to be marching with the charity and will be thinking of all the people, past and present, who have served for our country.”

Chief executive of Blind Veterans UK, Major General (Rtd) Nick Caplin CB said: “Kenneth will rightly be proud to march with our blind veterans this Remembrance Sunday. This is the time of year when we reflect on the sacrifice and service of all our members of the Armed Forces.”