A former RAF Police Corporal from Brighton is set to march with other blind veterans this Remembrance Sunday for Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision impaired ex-Service men and women.
Tony Harbour, aged 79, started volunteering for Blind Veterans UK in 1991 and has guided blind veterans on Remembrance Sunday on 20 separate occasions. However, two years ago he lost his own sight and started receiving support from Blind Veterans UK himself.
Tony says: “When I lost my sight, the fact that I knew about Blind Veterans UK helped tremendously.”
Tony Harbour was part of the RAF police from 1953 until 1961. While with the RAF Police he was stationed in Gibraltar and the UK. After a few years Tony was promoted RAF Police II.
After Tony left the RAF he finished his apprenticeship and degree in electrical engineering and moved to Brighton where he started up his own business. Part of his work involved working on Blind Veterans UK properties, which are adapted for veterans with sight loss so they can live independently. Whilst working at one of these houses, he met a blind veteran who was receiving support from Blind Veterans UK.
Tony says: “I never knew about Blind Veterans UK until I moved to Brighton. I started volunteering for the charity after meeting this inspiring veteran, who motivated me to support such a wonderful military charity. He and I now consider ourselves brothers, we have a great friendship.”
Tony was diagnosed as suffering from glaucoma. He had several unsuccessful operations to try and help with his sight , but was registered blind in 2009.
Tony says: “When I lost my sight I found myself in a black hole that I didn’t know how to get out of. I wasn’t myself and I did not want to know the world.
“Once I did get out of the black hole I found it very helpful to have been part of Blind Veterans UK as a volunteer for many years. Back in 2012, I remember going for my induction as a blind veteran at their Brighton centre. It was frightening arriving on my first day as but hearing all of my friends from my time as a volunteer took my fear away.”
This Remembrance Sunday Tony will march to the Cenotaph in London for the 23rd time alongside other blind veterans representing Blind Veterans UK.
Tony says: “I am proud and honoured to represent Blind Veterans UK. I want to show my respect to the people who gave their lives. My father fought in the First World War and I am paying respect to those that never came back. Remembrance Sunday always brings a lump in my throat.”
Blind Veterans UK’s No One Alone campaign estimates that there are over 68,000 vision impaired veterans, just like Tony, who could be eligible for free, lifelong support but are not currently aware of it. If you know an ex-Service man or woman who is now battling severe sight loss visit www.noonealone.org.uk or call freephone 0800 389 7979.
