A blind war veteran from Blackburn is set to march at the nation's most iconic war memorial as part of the national Remembrance Sunday commemorations.

58-year-old Alan Holderness is set to march at the Cenotaph in London this Remembrance Sunday (November 13) with the charity Blind Veterans UK.

He will join more than 40 other blind veterans with the national charity, which supports vision-impaired ex-service men and women. 

Aged 16, Alan joined the Royal Marines straight from school 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 walked 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’d left, he’d managed to convince me.  

“I joined 40 Commando as a chef and carried out my training at Lympstone and was then posted to The Falklands. 

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

During his time in the Falklands, Alan started to notice that he was having problems with his eyesight.

He said: “After a couple of incidents, I was told to get my eyesight tested if I ever made it back alive.” 

At just 18-years-old, Alan was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a hereditary disease which gradually degrades the sufferer’s sight.  

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

Despite Alan’s worsening condition, he tried to remain in the Marines and hid his condition for as long as possible before being medically discharged in 1986 at the age of 22. 

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

Alan’s sight loss has been gradual, and he was registered blind in 1996. He now has only a small amount of central vision remaining and no peripheral vision. 

Fortunately, Alan found out about Blind Veterans UK and started receiving support from the charity in 2006. 

He said: “My sight loss has had a massive impact on me, it’s so restrictive and limits my mobility.

“I either take a risk and venture out alone or wait to be picked up and dropped off like a parcel. I’ve lost the freedom to do what I want, when I want and have to rely on others. 

“I visited Blind Veterans UK’s Centre of Wellbeing in Brighton and I learned that there was a family waiting there for me should I need them.

“I try to live an independent life but I’m very aware that as I grow older, I am likely to need more support.  

“I’ve been given assistance with computers and touch typing but more than anything I know that there is help waiting in the background should I need it and a team of people to pick me up if I trip and fall.  

“The staff at the charity go above and beyond to care without being smothering and it is amazing to be able to rekindle that feeling of being part of the Services in a safe place among others who’ve also lost their sight.” 

Alan will be marching with fellow blind veterans at the Cenotaph this Remembrance Sunday. 

He says: “I’ve marched numerous times before at the Cenotaph with Blind Veterans UK. It’s an amazing experience and we, the veterans, are so well looked after at such an important and emotive time. 

“This year will be particularly poignant as it’s the 40th anniversary of the Falklands conflict and I will be remembering those who lost their lives.

“I’m not one for emotion but marching at the Cenotaph there is grit in the air, you get a lump in your throat and butterflies in your stomach. Being cheered by other veterans is really something special.” 

Chief Executive of Blind Veterans UK, Major General (Rtd) Nick Caplin CB says: “Remembrance Sunday is a very poignant time for our blind veterans as we reflect on the sacrifice and service of all members of the Armed Forces.  

“This will be a special Remembrance Sunday as not only will it be a return to normality for the first time since the pandemic, but it will also be the first Remembrance since the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.  

“As our former Patron and our Commander in Chief, Her Majesty held a very important place in the hearts of all members of Blind Veterans UK who have served their country in her name, and she will be uppermost in our thoughts at this time.” 

If you, or someone you know, served in the Armed Forces, and are now struggling with sight loss, then please call 0800 389 7979 or visit blindveterans.org.uk/support