Epic challenge in remembrance of soldiers killed in Afghanistan Warrior explosion.
In June, veteran and author Andy Reid, and Warrant Officer Class 2 Glen Hughes will be cycling 400 miles and kayaking 125 miles over 14 days in memory of six soldiers who were killed in an explosion of their Warrior armoured vehicle in Afghanistan in 2012.
Read moreA couple from Tyne and Wear celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary this week (27/04) and marked the occasion at a special lunch with a military charity that has supported them both.
Tom and Amy Bryden, from High Spen, were toasted at the Blind Veterans UK lunch club in Newcastle on Monday (24/04) and were presented with an anniversary cake and champagne.
Tom, 88, and Amy, 86, were childhood sweethearts first meeting when Tom bravely approached her in the shop where she was working in Dunston.
Read moreA man from Rutland is took on the London Marathon for Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.
Jeremy Greville-Heygate, 55 and from Burrough on the Hill, completed the world famous course with his wife, Emma. Jeremy finished the course in four hours twenty-six minutes, while Emma completed it in five hours six minutes.
Read moreA physiotherapist and Team GB athlete from Sheffield has completed the London Marathon in an incredible two hours 49 minutes and 32 seconds, despite being ill. He ran on behalf of Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for blind and vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.
Steve, 37, says: “It was a great day, as it always is at the London Marathon. It wasn’t quite the time I was aiming for, but unfortunately I was battling against a cold in the days before, so I’m still very happy with it!
Read moreA Second World War blind veteran from Cumbria has been formally presented with the Chevalier de l’Ordre National de la Legion d’Honneur for his part in the liberation of France.
William Gerard Lackey, 96 and from Ulverston, was presented with the prestigious honour by Philip Daniel, the Honorary French Consul of Liverpool, on behalf of French president Francois Hollande. The special ceremony took place at a reunion dinner held in Barrow-in-Furness and was organised by Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for blind and vision-impaired ex-Service men and women, from whom he receives support.
Read moreThe OA’s Benevolence Department continues to focus on providing financial support and advice to former Officers and their dependants throughout the UK and overseas. The work carried out by our Benevolence team is of enormous value to the OA community and it is during our proudest moments that we look to the power of social media and its undeniable influence, to spread the word about what we do and why it’s so important to all at the OA.
Continuing to inform and inspire our social media following, below are just a few examples of the OA’s most popular case studies to date…
Read moreA Second World War blind veteran from Cumbria is to be formally presented with the Chevalier de l’Ordre National de la Legion d’Honneur for his part in the liberation of France.
William Gerard Lackey, 96 and from Ulverston, will be presented with the prestigious honour by Philip Daniel, the Honorary French Consul of Liverpool, on behalf of French president Francois Hollande next week (19/04).
Read moreWhen living independently was starting to be too much for John, he got in touch with the Royal Air Forces Association, to see if there was any support available.
John served in the Royal Air Force from 1970 to 1977. He was an aerospace systems operator and served throughout the UK as well as in Malta, Cyprus and Belgium. After deciding to leave the RAF he moved abroad, instructing and training in Saudi Arabia, before meeting his wife and returning to the UK.
Read moreThe High Sheriff of Clwyd has raised over £8,000 for Blind Veterans UK, the military charity for blind and vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.
Jim O’Toole donated the money after he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. The climb raised funds to purchase vehicles that would assist less-abled veterans visiting the charity’s training and rehabilitation centre in Llandudno to access its popular Woodland Walk.
Of the achievement, which was in fact the second time Jim has climbed Kilimanjaro, he says: “It was exhilarating and of course a fantastic experience. The elements were extremely tough; at night the temperatures at the summit were somewhere between minus 15C and minus 25C, while the oxygen level was only around 50% of that at sea level. We managed to trek eight hours each day, except for the final summit day, which took around 16 hours.”
Read moreA blind veteran from Skegness has received a prestigious award from military charity Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.
Carol Davies, 66 and from Skegness, received the Blind Veterans UK Community Award which is given to recognise the contribution by a blind veteran, spouse, widow or widower to the family of Blind Veterans UK.
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Afghanistan support
In light of recent events in Afghanistan, please find information and support resources here
