Blind veteran Alan "honoured" to be named our new President

Alan has been a valued member of the Blind Veterans UK community for twenty years. He is a successful business owner and a serving magistrate with more than two decades of service. In addition, he has already made a significant contribution to the charity’s governance through seven years of dedicated service as a Trustee.

Alan added: "I want to help ensure that more veterans know that they are not alone, and that support is there whenever they are ready to reach out."

Paying tribute to his predecessor, Colin Williamson, Alan said:

"Colin has been an incredible ambassador for Blind Veterans UK. His dedication, compassion and commitment to supporting blind veterans has made a real difference to so many lives, and I am honoured to follow in his footsteps."

Service in the Royal Marines

Alan joined the Royal Marines straight from school at the age of 16 in 1980.

He said: “It wasn’t my intention to join the Marines at all; I was planning to do my A Levels and study to be a doctor or a biochemist.

“One of my friends wanted to join the Army, so I went down to the recruiting station with him. While he was signing up, I went for a wander to the Navy recruiting station. The recruiting sergeant asked if I wanted to be a Marine and I said, ‘No, not really’. However, by the time I left, he’d managed to convince me.”

Alan joined 40 Commando as a chef, training at Lympstone before being posted to the Falklands.

He adds: “I turned 18 on the day of the Argentinian surrender. We were still stuck in the Falklands, so my birthday wasn’t spent celebrating, though we did manage to get some beer to the base to mark the occasion.”

Losing his sight

During his service, Alan began to experience problems with his eyesight and was later diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at just 18 years old.

He says: “I was told I’d eventually go blind and there was nothing that could be done, it was absolutely devastating.”

Despite his worsening condition, Alan remained in the Marines for as long as possible before being medically discharged in 1986 at the age of 22.

He says: “I lost my career, my Royal Marine family, and the place I was living. I was left with a very uncertain future.”

Alan was registered blind in 1996 and now has only a small amount of central vision remaining.

20 years of support

He began receiving support from Blind Veterans UK in 2006 and has since become a passionate advocate for the charity and its work.

“My sight loss has had a massive impact, it’s restrictive and limits my independence. But Blind Veterans UK has given me a sense of belonging again. It’s like being part of the Services once more, surrounded by people who understand.”

Adrian added: “I would also like to extend our sincere thanks to Colin Williamson for his exceptional service and leadership as President. His contribution to the charity has been invaluable, and he leaves a lasting legacy.”