Vernon will be on the march with veterans
SOUTHPORT RAF veteran Vernon Kendall will be among more than 100 blind veterans marching at the Cenotaph as part of the national Remembrance Sunday commemorations.
They are supported by Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for visionimpaired ex-servicemen and women.
Vernon, 93, joined the Royal Air Force in 1943.
He was based in the UK and trained in St John’s Wood, before being discharged in 1947 as a Sergeant Air Gunner.
Blind Veterans UK was founded more than 100 years ago to support those blinded in WWI.
The charity now supports veterans regardless of when they served or how they lost their sight.
Vernon said: “One of my most notable moments of my time in service was when I was staying in a house in St John’s Wood.
“We went out for breakfast one morning and we came back to find that the house had been hit by a doodlebug – a V1 flying bomb.
“We had to dig the landlady out of all the rubble.”
He lost his sight through macular degeneration and glaucoma in both eyes, found out about Blind Veterans UK and started receiving support from the charity in 2017.
He said: “I was lucky to have such a great family to support me when I lost my sight but it is fantastic to be supported by the charity as well – they are like a second family to me now.”
Vernon regularly visits the charity’s training and rehabilitation centre in Llandudno, where he has participated in many different activities.
He said: “I have done climbing, horse riding, been on a zip wire and a tandem – it’s great because I never thought I would be able to do those things again. It’s still a bit difficult to get in and out of the canoe but once I am in, it’s fantastic.”
He also went on the Remembrance Sunday march last year and he said: “I will be thinking about all of those who didn’t come back.”
The chief executive of Blind Veterans UK, Major General (Rtd) Nick Caplin
CB, said: “Vernon 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 and their families.
“Today we support more blind veterans than ever before in our history, but we know there are many more who still need our support to rebuild their lives following their sight loss.
“I would encourage anyone who thinks they know someone who could be entitled to our support to get in touch today.”
Visit blindveterans.org. uk to learn more about the charity and how to support its work.