Blind Veteran To Mark Remembrance Sunday Online

A blind veteran unable to march at the Cenotaph this weekend because of the coronavirus pandemic will join others online instead.

Tony Harbour, 85, will experience very different Remembrance Sunday commemorations as a result of COVID-19.

The virus has meant the traditional service and march will be dramatically reduced this year, which will prevent him and other veterans from joining in.

However, Mr Harbour and more than 100 other blind veterans will have the opportunity to get together virtually in "listen and join in" parties, assisted by the Blind Veterans UK charity.

This will help to keep blind veterans connected at such an important time and prevent them feeling isolated, the charity said.

Mr Harbour, who was in the RAF Police Force from 1953 to 1961, said Remembrance is "a very special time of year" for him as his father fought in the First World War and he wears his war medals "with pride" on Remembrance Sunday.

This year, in particular, he will be remembering his "fellow blind veteran Ron Freer", who passed away this year at the age of 104.

"It’s very sad not to be able to go to London but I’ll be sat at home watching on TV with a photo of Ron," he said.

The chief executive of Blind Veterans UK, Major General (Rtd) Nick Caplin, said: "This year will be a Remembrance like no other and it’s such a shame that veterans like Tony won’t be marching proudly at the Cenotaph.

"The isolation caused by COVID and experienced by our blind veterans can be just as harmful as the virus itself.

"That’s why we will be doing all we can to ensure they remain connected to each other and the outside world through the Remembrance period and beyond," he added.

Because of the pandemic, the public have been asked to stay away from the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday 2020 and Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has urged people to mark this year's event at home.

Downing Street announced some Remembrance Sunday events in England will be allowed to go ahead as long as they take place outside and social distancing measures are in place.

A national ceremony at the Cenotaph in London will also go ahead.

Cover image: Veteran Tony Harbour pictured at his adapted computer (Picture: Blind Veterans UK).