This blind veteran and Leeds councillor from Morley will march at London's Cenotaph this Remembrance Sunday
As blind veteran and Leeds city councillor from Morley will march at the Cenotaph in London this Remembrance Sunday
Simon Brown, 46 and from Morley, West Yorkshire, will be marching at the Cenotaph as part of the national Remembrance Sunday commemorations with more than 40 other blind veterans supported by Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women.
Simon joined the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in 1997. During his career, he worked as a mechanic servicing and maintaining armed vehicles, serving in Germany, Kosovo, Poland, Canada, and Iraq.
He lost his sight in 2006, while serving as a corporal. He led a successful mission to rescue six stranded colleagues in Iraq when he was shot in the face by a sniper, the bullet entered his left cheek and exited the other side.
Simon awoke 17 days later in a Birmingham hospital. He had lost all sight in his left eye and had to undergo several intensive operations to reconstruct his face. He was left with around 20 per cent vision in his right eye.
Fortunately, Simon found out about Blind Veterans UK and started receiving support from the charity in 2007.
He said: “Nearly two decades on from losing my sight I’m grateful that Blind Veterans UK were there to support me when I needed them most.
“They gave me the training and support to move forward with my life in a positive way. In my early days with the charity the education and peer support were the most important things for me. They built up my confidence and gave me support with the practical things I needed moving forwards.
“Being a Member of Blind Veterans UK gave me back that sense of belonging that I had when I was in the Army, it’s this unwritten sense of understanding that comes from being in the military.”
Simon now works for the charity to support them reach out to help more blind veterans. He has also gone on to have a hugely successful career playing and now coaching Physical Disability Rugby League (PDRL). He has also been elected as local councillor in Morley, a Leeds City Councillor and recently finished his year serving as the Mayor of Morley.
He says: “If you’d have told me when I left school, let alone after I’d lost my sight, that I’d go on to be the Mayor of my home town I wouldn’t have believed you. But, with the right support around me, I’ve been able to achieve things I didn’t think were possible.
“I’m also very privileged to be in a position to give something back to my community and those that have made a massive difference to me and others. When I was Mayor I was able to raise £5,000 for Blind Veterans UK and the Leeds Rhinos Foundation.”
Simon will be marching with over 40 other blind veterans at the Cenotaph this Remembrance Sunday.
He said: “Last year I was proud to be in Morley on Remembrance Sunday fulfilling my duties as Mayor but there is always something special about marching at the Cenotaph. This year I’ll be marching with an old comrade called James who I served with 25 years ago.”
Simon will also be laying a wreath at Victoria Gardens on The Headrow on 11 November on behalf of his ward – Morley North.
Chief Executive of Blind Veterans UK, Adrian Bell, says: “Earlier this year we commemorated 80 years since VE Day and VJ Day, milestones that remind us of the courage and sacrifice of those who helped secure peace in Europe and the Pacific.
“This Remembrance Sunday, I’m proud to march alongside Simon and all our veterans, including those who served in those defining moments, and all who have served since.
“We honour the men and women who gave their lives for our country, and we will remember them."
Simon’s story forms part of Blind Veterans UK’s 2025 Remembrance campaign, “Honour their service, Support their future.” Through the campaign the charity aims to salute the service of veterans from the Second World War, 80 years on, and also raise awareness of younger veterans who gave years of their life to serving this country and are now battling blindness.
Blind Veterans UK supports thousands of blind veterans like Simon, but knows there are many thousands more who still need its support to rebuild their lives after sight loss.
Simon says: “Part of my job working with Blind Veterans UK is to get the word out to say there’s a life-changing charity that can support anyone who has ever served no matter how they lost their sight.”
If you, or someone you know, served in the Armed Forces, including National Service, and are now struggling with sight loss, then please get in touch. Call 0800 389 7979 or visit blindveterans.org.uk/apply