A FORMER Wren from Poole has said she feels honoured to be joining the march to the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday representing Blind Veterans UK.

Jean Davies, a former Women’s Royal Naval Service Third Officer, will be alongside other blind ex-service men and women on behalf of the national charity at the remembrance event in the capital.

She said: “It’s an honour to represent such a great charity on Remembrance Sunday, which is very special for me. I will be thinking about fallen relatives, as my grandfather John Dunscombe served in the Navy during the First World War and I recently found out I had two uncles who served and died during World War I.”

The 76-year-old, who now uses a wheelchair after a leg amputation last year, joined the Wrens in 1956 where she trained to be an Air Radio Mechanic, going on to serve at HMS Sanderling, HMS Ariel and HMS Heron. She later trained as a photographic interpreter and went to RAF Brampton, where she met her husband Trevor Davies, a pilot who received the Air Force Cross and the Distinguished Flying Cross while in the RAF. She left the Wrens in 1962.

A keen badminton player, Jean said she began to notice there was something wrong with her vision when she couldn’t hit the shuttle cock at the net like she used to. She was later diagnosed with Age Related Macular Degeneration in her left eye. A couple of years later her right eye also deteriorated. Only her peripheral vision remains.

Last year Jean found out about Blind Veterans UK, which has provided her free support to help her cope with her loss of sight.

She added: “I didn’t realise how much Blind Veterans UK could help me.

“They supplied me with very helpful gadgets including a talking watch, magnifying devices, large print diary and address book.”

Blind Veterans UK’s No One Alone campaign estimates that there are over 68,000 vision impaired veterans who could be eligible for free, lifelong support but are not currently aware of it.

For more information contact noonealone.org.uk or call freephone 0800 389 7979.