Blind veteran honoured for inspiring his community

Bob Strickland volunteers to support other blind veterans

A former paratrooper who lost his sight has been given an award by a military charity for inspiring his community.

Bob Strickland, 86, was presented with a certificate by Blind Veterans UK in recognition of the voluntary work he undertakes in his hometown of Fareham in Hampshire.

He began to lose his sight aged 57 after suffering optic nerve damage and - after receiving support from the charity himself - started a lunch club for others faced with similar situations.

Speaking after being given the award at a military dinner at HMS Sultan in Gosport, he said he was "very proud to have been recognised".

Mr Strickland signed up to the Army aged 18, starting as a signaller before completing parachute selection.

Joining the 33rd Parachute Field Regiment Artillery, Mr Strickland was dropped in Egypt during the Suez Crisis in November 1956.

He left the Army at the rank of lance bombardier in 1958 and was later employed as a cartographer, retiring in 1994 when his sight loss deteriorated.

“One day I said to my wife 'I can see your eyes but where has the rest of you gone?'" he said.

"It was extremely frightening when it first happened."

'Tireless dedication'

Mr Strickland began receiving support from Blind Veterans UK in 2004.

The charity helped him learn to use equipment that allowed him to maintain his independence.

"I don’t think I would have survived without the charity - with their support my life has been transformed," he said.

Community support worker Angie Nicholas, who nominated Mr Strickland for the honour, said he had been running a regular lunch club for fellow veterans with sight loss alongside wife Ann.

“Bob has demonstrated tireless dedication and commitment to bringing his community together," she added.

The charity's Founder's Awards are held annually and this year marked the 109th anniversary of Sir Arthur Pearson first opening his doors to war-blinded veterans in 1915.