A proud Remembrance Sunday for Lancashire blind veteran as he marches at the Cenotaph for the first time as President of Blind Veterans UK
A blind veteran from Lancashire is set to march at the Cenotaph in London this Remembrance Sunday (8/11) with the charity Blind Veterans UK.
Alan Holderness, 62 and from Blackburn, will be marching at the Cenotaph as part of the national Remembrance Sunday commemorations with over 40 other blind veterans supported by Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.
Alan joined the Royal Marines in 1980, aged 16, and served with 40 Commando. During his six years of service, he deployed to the Falklands, took part in NATO exercises in the Mediterranean and completed a United Nations peacekeeping tour in Cyprus. He was just 17 when he sailed to the Falklands and turned 18 on 14 June 1982, the day Argentine forces surrendered. He says:
“The strongest memory is the people you serve with. They become your family and your closest friends. No matter where you were in the world, you had your family and your home with you.”
Alan began experiencing night blindness while serving in the Falklands and was later diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, an inherited condition that causes progressive sight loss. As his sight deteriorated, he was medically discharged from the Royal Marines in 1986. He says:
“Leaving was tough. I lost my job, my income, my home and the biggest, wildest family I had ever had. But the Royal Marines had taught me never to give up, and that has been the backbone of my life since being registered blind. I have never let sight loss take control.”
Alan later found out about Blind Veterans UK, then known as St Dunstan’s, after a chance meeting with a charity representative at the Commando Training Centre in Devon. He applied and began receiving support from the charity. He says:
“Blind Veterans UK gave me the confidence to know there were people like me, with a similar sight impairment and a military background. Whenever I need training, practical help or simply someone to speak to who understands, that support is there. I lost my family when I left the Royal Marines, but I gained a family when I joined St Dunstan’s, now Blind Veterans UK.”
Alan, who was appointed President of Blind Veterans UK in June 2026, will be marching with his fellow blind veterans at the Cenotaph this Remembrance Sunday. It will be his first time taking part in the national parade as the charity’s President. He says:
“To march at the Cenotaph with Blind Veterans UK is an absolute honour and privilege. To be there on the front row as President, alongside our Chair and Chief Executive, is difficult to put into words. It will be a very emotional moment as I remember everyone who has served, those who fell and the comrades we have lost since.”
Alan will particularly remember fellow 40 Commando Royal Marine Stephen “Mac” McAndrews, who was killed during an air attack at San Carlos on 27 May 1982 while still firing his machine gun. Alan says:
“Mac was one of us. His partner was pregnant when we sailed and he never had the chance to meet his daughter. I think of Mac, his partner and his daughter whenever I attend a Remembrance parade. We should remember those who did not return every year, because their families live with that loss every day.”
Chief Executive of Blind Veterans UK, Adrian Bell, says:
“Every November, we honour those who served our country, remembering their sense of duty, sacrifice and service. This Remembrance Sunday, I am proud to march alongside our blind veterans as we remember those who gave their lives in service to our country and reflect on the contribution of all who have served.
“This year also marks a number of significant anniversaries, including 35 years since the end of Operation Desert Storm, the liberation of Kuwait by Coalition Forces, and 15 years since the end of Operation Telic, UK military operations in Iraq. These milestones remind us of the enduring impact of military service and the importance of ensuring veterans receive the support they need long after their service has ended.”
Alan’s story forms part of Blind Veterans UK’s 2026 Remembrance campaign, ‘When blind veterans can’t march alone, we march with them.’
For many ex-Service men and women living with sight loss, taking part in acts of Remembrance remains deeply important. Yet losing one’s sight can bring significant challenges to independence, mobility and confidence. Blind Veterans UK stands with them throughout their journey, supporting them to take part in Remembrance and rebuilding their lives after sight loss through rehabilitation, training, equipment and emotional support.
Blind Veterans UK supports thousands of blind veterans like Alan, but knows there are many thousands more who could benefit from its support.
Alan says: “Having that support behind you gives you the confidence to move forward and deal with the day-to-day challenges of sight loss. Blind Veterans UK understands, and it will be there when you need help.”
If you, or someone you know, served in the Armed Forces, including National Service, and are now struggling with sight loss, then please get in touch. Call 0800 389 7979 or visit blindveterans.org.uk/apply.
