Timeline

1915

Blind veterans at Regent's Park working in the woodwork workshop in 1915 — Blind Veterans UK is founded by Sir Arthur Pearson as the Blinded Soldiers' and Sailors' Care Committee. We provide training, rehabilitation and lifelong support to those blinded in the First World War. After a short spell in Bayswater Road, London we are based in Regent’s Park.

1917

Image of Ian Fraser in 1917 — Ian Fraser, who had been blinded at the Somme, is placed in charge of our After-Care work. Now known as Community Support, this department continues to provide lifelong support and assistance for all our blind veterans following their initial training and rehabilitation activities.

1920

A blind veterans reunion in 1920 — We hold our first reunion meeting of blind veterans who have completed their training and left Regent’s Park. This takes place in Bristol, and is followed by many more throughout the country. We have held reunion meetings ever since.

1921

Lord Pearson's funeral in 1921 — Sir Arthur Pearson dies, aged only 55. Ian Fraser takes over as Chairman, a position he holds for 53 years. Pearson’s funeral service and burial are attended by thousands of people, including blind veterans who he had helped and inspired.

1923

We officially become St Dunstan's in 1923 — We formally adopt the name by which we have been generally known since our early days in Regent’s Park, officially becoming St Dunstan's.

1927

West House in 1927 — Our training and rehabilitation activities transfer from Regent's Park to our West House centre in Brighton, although our administrative headquarters remains in London.

1935

A blind veteran listening to a talking book in 1935 — Working together with the National Institute of Blind People (now the RNIB) we establish the Talking Book library.

1938

The Brighton centre in 1938 — We open a new, groundbreaking purpose-built centre at Ovingdean, Brighton. This provides training and rehabilitation activities, convalescent care and holiday breaks for our blind veterans. The centre continues its work to this day.

1940

Blind veterans being taught manufacturing skills in 1940 — We move our training and rehabilitation work from Brighton to Church Stretton in Shropshire for the remainder of the war. 700 men and women are trained here, many learning new manufacturing skills to enable them to go on to factory work.

1946

The Brighton centre in 1946 — We leave Church Stretton and return to Brighton.

1948

Blind veterans UK London office in 1948 — Our administrative headquarters moves to 191 Old Marylebone Road, London.

1952

Her Majesty the Queen visiting Blind Veterans UK in 1952 — Her Majesty the Queen becomes our Patron. This role was initially taken on by her great-grandmother Queen Alexandra soon after we were founded.

1965

A veteran using the long cane in 1965 — We collaborate with institutions in the United States on the development of the new ‘long cane’ walking stick and with the RNIB on its introduction in this country

1976

Tony Parkinson competing in the Paralympics in 1976 — Tony Parkinson and Ray Peart are the first of our blind veterans to compete in the Paralympic Games (then known as the 'Olympiad for the Physically Disabled'), held in Toronto, Canada.

1979

The Kurzweil reading machine in 1979 — Together with the RNIB, we evaluate the Kurzweil - the first reading machine to instantly convert print into speech.

1984

The London office in 1984 — We move headquarters to our current location in Harcourt Street, London.

1985

The queen visiting the Brighton centre in 1985 — HM The Queen visits our Brighton centre to open the new South Wing. This provides additional facilities and extra accommodation for our blind veterans and their partners.

2000

Blind veterans playing bowls in 2000 — We change our constitution, expanding to allow all veterans who have lost their sight to join us, irrespective of when and how this occurred.

2004

Ray Hazan elected as President in 2004 — Ray Hazan, who was blinded whilst serving in Northern Ireland, is elected as our President. In 2012, Ray was awarded the OBE for his services to the blind ex-service community.

2009

Henry Allingham passes away in 2009 — Henry Allingham, the world's oldest man, who had joined us in 2005, dies peacefully at our Brighton centre at the age of 113. The funeral is held with full military honours at St Nicholas Church, Brighton.

2011

The Llandudno centre in 2011 — We open another new centre, at Llandudno in north Wales.

2012

Blind Veterans UK new name reveal in 2012 — We change name to Blind Veterans UK, to help more people understand who we are and what we do.

2015

Buckingham Palace garden party in 2015 — We celebrate our 100th anniversary with special events including a Buckingham Palace Garden Party and a service at Westminster Abbey

2016

The Countess of Wessex, with Nick Caplin, Nicki Shaw and Steve Boswell, opening Life Skills Facility at Llandudno — Her Royal Highness The Countess of Wessex GCVO became our new Patron, as Her Royal Majesty The Queen stepped down. Her first act as Patron was to open our Life Skills building in Llandudno.

The charity launches a new strategy, moving to a new model which includes the provision of enhanced help and support for our blind veterans in their own community.

2017

Colin Williamson - President — Ray Hazan OBE steps down as President after 13 years. Blind veteran Colin Williamson becomes the sixth Blind Veterans UK President.

The charity once again takes a step into research, to help our veterans in the future. We are now running exciting projects in the areas of biomedical research, social and welfare research and innovations.

2019

Founder of Blind Veterans UK, Sir Arthur Pearson, received an English Heritage Blue Plaque at 21 Portland Place in London where he used to live.