Remembrance Sunday: ‘I’m proud to march with blind veterans’

HEADING TO CENOTAPH: Andy Cottrell

A blind veteran from Hull will march at the Cenotaph this Remembrance Sunday with the charity Blind Veterans UK.

Andy Cottrell, 59, will be marching at the London memorial as part of the national Remembrance Sunday commemorations with more than 30 other blind veterans supported by Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.   

 Andy joined the Royal Signals as a junior soldier in 1979.

During his time in service, he trained to become a telecommunications mechanic, as well as an aerial rigger. He served in Cyprus and York before leaving the Army in 1984.

Andy said: “I enjoyed my time in service, I made many friendships which I still have today. There was a great sense of comradeship, and it was a good life experience living with other people”.

Andy started to lose his sight seven years ago due to progression in his diabetes. This caused high pressure glaucoma and his sight has gradually declined.

He said: “In May this year I was told that I was severely visually impaired, and I only have 30 per cent vision in my right eye and 70 per cent in my left”.

Fortunately, Andy found out about Blind Veterans UK and started receiving support from the charity in 2020.

“Blind Veterans UK have been a great support to me, especially during lockdown,” Andy said. “There’s been regular telephone contact and lots of virtual group calls.

“I’ve been able to talk to other blind veterans over Microsoft Teams, which has been great for me to talk to people similar to myself; we understand each other”. 

The charity has also given Andy lots of visual aids and equipment to help him with his day-to-day tasks.

IN SERVICE: Andy Cottrell

He said: “They’ve supplied me with reading aids which have been great in making me more independent. Being able to read signs and letters myself has given me a lot more confidence.

“It’s astounding the amount of support that Blind Veterans UK are able to provide. The staff are compassionate and not judgemental at all”. 

Looking ahead to Sunday, he said: “I’m very proud to be marching, it’s something that I never thought I’d be able to do. Remembrance gives us all a time to reflect on the sacrifices that people from previous generations have given to allow us to live the lives that we do.

“On the day, I will be thinking about my father, Corporal Derik Cottrell who sadly passed away four years ago. He served from 1953 until 1976”.

Blind Veterans UK was founded more than 100 years ago to support those blinded in the First World War.

Now, the charity supports veterans regardless of when they served or how they lost their sight.

Throughout the pandemic the charity has supported veterans, particularly those who are most vulnerable; whether they need food delivered, medication from their pharmacy or a friendly voice over the phone.

Blind Veterans UK still runs over 45 virtual group support sessions a week.  

Major General (Rtd) Nick Caplin CB, chief executive of Blind Veterans UK, said: “This year we will hopefully be able to experience a more normal Remembrance Sunday once again and it will be fantastic to march with veterans like Andy for the first time.

“More than 90 per cent of the blind veterans we support are over 70 and so were most at risk from Covid-19.  

 “We have found new ways of supporting them throughout the last 18 months and it has meant that we have been able to keep them connected, as well as ensuring practical support is still there for the most vulnerable.” 

Find out more about the charity and how to support its vital work here.