A blind veteran from Trowbridge, who served with the Wiltshire Regiment in the 1950s, will join thousands of other blind veterans in the march to the Cenotaph in central London today.

Ronald Jefferies will join other members of Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for blind ex-Service men and women that has supported him with his battle against sight loss.

Born in July 1934, Mr Jefferies was first employed as an apprentice plumber before joining the Wiltshire Regiment in September 1956. He served in Devizes, Warminster, Tidworth, Netley and Aldershot before being discharged.

After leaving the army he went on to work for various plumbing companies in Trowbridge before becoming a hospital porter until retirement.

Now 79, he said: “My time in service was pretty tough going. After my training I worked on creating demonstrations which were used for other people’s training for time of conflict.

"I was specifically involved with creating sound effects for the demonstrations to give junior training officers some idea as to what sorts of sounds they could be face during an attack.

“As well as this I have good memories of the excellent camaraderie there was amongst us soldiers, which I will never forget.”

The Trowbridge man lost his sight as a result of age-related macular degeneration. As a blind veteran he was able to become a member of Blind Veterans UK, formerly St Dunstan’s, which supports blind veterans regardless of when they served or how they lost their sight.

The charity provides its members which extensive support, rehabilitation, training and welfare so that they can rediscover their independence and live life to the full once again.

He said: “I can’t say enough about Blind Veterans UK. They are a marvellous organisation. They do all they can to show you that they really care.

“They have given me many gadgets such as reading aids to help me read despite my sight loss, and many things that I could never have afforded. I have learnt many new skills too such as picture framing and safety in the kitchen training.

“My wife’s mind has been put at rest a great deal too. The great thing was that she was involved in some of the training herself – when I first joined the charity they showed her how to walk with blind people and the like which have helped the both of us.”

He will be extremely proud to be marching on behalf of Blind Veterans UK today, and added: “Taking part in the march is something that I always longed to do and until I joined the charity was not sure I would get the chance to do. I will be in my wheelchair on the march and thinking of all those who are not here any longer and who we owe an awful lot to.”

In October 2012 Blind Veterans UK launched its No One Alone campaign which aims to reach out to the estimated 68,000 plus blind veterans who are eligible for the charity’s services but are not currently aware of this. If you know someone who served in the Armed Forces - also National Service - and are now battling severe sight problems, Blind Veterans UK could provide them and their family with free practical and emotional support. Call freephone 0800 389 7979 or go to www.noonealone.org.uk