Blind veteran set to navigate Wales by bus

Swansea blind veteran Tony and his Army veteran friend Dai are preparing to travel around Wales using only public buses and sleeping in a tent at night along the way.

Tony, 60, and Dai, 74, will complete nearly 500 miles using their bus passes. Both men attend the Swansea Veterans Hub and are also raising money for the hub. Tony says:

“Planning the challenge has been a mission in itself; we had a 37-page bus timetable to look through and it was complicated to work out our route and timings."

The men will set off from the Swansea Veterans Hub on 19 March and hope to complete the route and be back at the hub by 10am on 22 March in time for their weekly meet up. Tony says:

“We’ll be carrying enough food and supplies including a tent and sleeping bag to last us for six days just in case we miss any buses!

“People may think I’m crazy, but I want to show what a blind person can do and how, with rehabilitation from Blind Veterans UK, I’ve been able to get back my independence and navigate around."

Public transport

Public transport can often pose challenges for the blind and the visually impaired, so Tony is interested to see what he finds while completing the challenge. He says:

“It’ll be great to feedback to the bus companies following my challenge on what I have discovered and if there is anything that didn’t go quite to plan.”

Military career

Dai and Tony served together in the Army. Tony joined the Parachute Regiment at 16 and underwent basic training in Aldershot but he suffered an injury to his ankle which meant he was unable to complete the jumps and therefore transferred to the Royal Regiment of Wales.

During his 15-year service, Tony undertook three tours in Northern Ireland, served in the Falklands for eight months and spent three years in Hong Kong. 

Sight loss

Tony was diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy in both eyes. He now has no vision in his left eye and very little in his right. He says:

“I was really deflated before I found Blind Veterans UK, I wasn’t sure what my life would look like. I hadn’t left the house for five months but with the support and rehabilitation of the charity, I’m now back in the right frame of mind and this has got me through.

“Last year I had my toes amputated and this put me off walking but I was again supported by the charity and now I am ready to take on this challenge to say thank you.

“I know now that I can still do anything I put my mind to but I may just need adaptations. I want to be able to put my own tent up during this challenge so have added different colour pegs so I know where to put the different colour guy ropes and have added glow tabs on the zips.” 

The route

During Tony’s challenge he’ll be passing through Swansea, Carmarthen, Haverfordwest, Fishguard, Aberaeron, Aberystwyth, Llandudno, Welshpool, Osweatry, Mold, Cardiff, Bridgend and Porthcawl. He says:

“If you see myself and Dai on route please do stop and say hello and give us a boost.”