Ex-soldier to march for blind veterans

Michael Scanlan, 55, who joined the Coldstream Guards shortly after leaving school, became blind as a result of diabetic maculopathy, and will march on behalf of Blind Veterans UK, the organisation that has supported him.

Mr Scanlan, who was born in Mexborough, South Yorkshire, served in Germany, Cyprus, Canada, Kenya, Northern Ireland, and throughout Europe.

After being discharged in 1993 he went to work as a school caretaker and security supervisor for the Forestry Commission before being forced to quit work when he began to lose his sight.

He said: “I found out I was diabetic in 1995 and from then on my eyesight started to gradually deteriorate. Initially it was frightening but now I am used to the fact that I am blind.

“Through Blind Veterans UK I have become a lot more confident about my ability to do things despite my sight loss.

“After being assessed by the charity and given an induction into what it can offer me, I have been given excellent equipment specialised for people who are blind and vision impaired.

“I am currently working towards a NVQ IT qualification through Blind Veterans UK and using this hope to find employment once again.

“I have also been able to make great friends at the charity.”

Elsewhere, Calderdale Council has announced plans to clean and restore every war memorial in the borough.

The authority is working with the War Memorials’ Trust, which is helping to finance the project, which should be completed by the end of the centenary of the end of the First World War in 2018.

“It’s really important that war memorials are kept in a good state of repair,” said Councillor Steve Sweeney.