Gift a Wreath - Supporters stories

This Remembrance five businesses signed up to take part in our 'Gift a Wreath' campaign with 14 gifted wreaths laid by our blind veterans at local Remembrance events across the country.

Remembrance is a special time for veterans, their families and those in active service. It is a time to come together to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Each year we support blind veterans in making the journey to march past the Cenotaph in London, but we also recognise that many veterans choose to mark the important occasion by taking part in events close to home surrounded by loved ones and fellow veterans.

Wreaths are provided to these veterans so they too can play an active part in Remembrance.

The money raised by our 'Gift a Wreath' campaign not only helps us to provide these veterans with a wreath but also ensures our ongoing support to blind veterans in their communities.

Thea Pharmaceuticals, Llandudno funeral directors Tom Owen and Son, Anglesey hotel Chateau Rhianfa, interior designers HomeSmiths, who assisted in the refurbishment of our Rustington Centre, and a fifth organisation who have chosen to remain anonymous signed up to the campaign this year.

Employees from Thea Pharmaceuticals also laid additional wreaths on behalf of our charity.

We have asked those businesses what it has meant to them to take part in our campaign:

Thea Pharmaceuticals

Thea Pharmaceuticals commitment to our ‘Gift a Wreath’ campaign for the third year running is part of their ongoing support for us which has seen them raise over £63,000 for us since 2015.

As well as gifting wreaths for our blind veterans to lay, staff from Thea also laid their own wreaths in support of our blind veterans.

Staff from Thea also knitted poppies which were laid at our Llandudno Centre as part of our Remembrance activities and are due to visit the centre before Christmas to deliver gifts to fill the stockings of blind veterans staying with us for the festive period.

Stephanie, who works as a finance administrator laid a wreath in Chesterton Park in Newcastle-under-Lyme. She says:

“Blind Veteran UK is a great charity to support. I have had the opportunity to visit the Llandudno Centre to see what the centre offers to veterans. While there I also took part in an activity where I was blindfolded to give me some understanding of the challenges that sight loss brings.

“By laying a wreath, I hope I was able to raise awareness for the charity and the veterans it supports.

“I am always proud to represent my company and the blind veterans by laying a wreath to remember the fallen soldiers.”

Stephanie has raised money for our charity in other ways, she has also organised a raffle, run the London Marathon and a half marathon.

Glaucoma Team Manager Francesca laid a wreath in Beckenham as part of the Remembrance Day Parade. Francesca was joined by her two young sons, one of whom took part in the parade alongside his scout group, to lay the wreath. She says:

“I was very honoured to be laying a wreath this year on behalf of Blind Veterans UK and Thea. It makes it even more special to have done it with my children.

“The team at Thea, myself included, are so committed to our work with Blind Veterans, it's really inspirational to see.

“Having attended the centres on numerous occasions, receiving such a warm welcome from the veterans and staff and by really getting a good understanding of the work Blind Veterans UK does has made the Team at Thea even more committed to support them each year.”

Francesca has been a charity lead at Thea for the last two years and helps to coordinate and raise the profile of all the activities that Thea are involved in with our charity. Previous fundraisers have included raffles, skydiving, sporting events such as the London Marathon and London to Brighton Cycle, poppy knitting and preparing stockings for the blind veterans who visit Llandudno at Christmas.

Tom Owen and Son

This is the third year that Tom Owen and Son Funeral Directors has supported our ‘Gift a Wreath’ campaign to support our veterans at this poignant time. They are based in Llandudno near to our centre in North Wales.

Kelly, from Tom Owen and Son, joined blind veteran Mary on Remembrance Sunday in Llandudno to lay the wreath they had gifted. Mary, 98, joined the ATS in 1943 and was attached to 36 Company, Royal Army Pay Corps. Kelly says:

“As an attendee, the Remembrance commemorations allow me to personally honour the memory of the fallen heroes, as well as the resilience and dedication of those who have returned from the conflict. It's a time to reflect on the sacrifices made by those who served and continue to serve in the military. It’s humbling and inspiring to be part of something so meaningful and emotional, particularly joining Blind Veterans UK again who are always so welcoming to me every year.

“Meeting veterans during this special time has offered me invaluable insight into their stories of courage, endurance, and brotherhood. Their stories have inspired me to approach both personal and professional challenges with greater determination and a deeper appreciation for the freedoms we often take for granted.”

HomeSmiths

HomeSmiths Health Care Interior Designers gifted a wreath for the second time this year. They worked closely with our charity on the refurbishment of our Rustington Centre.

HomeSmiths gifted a wreath that was laid by blind veteran Jim.
Jacqui, Director of the company, says:

“We became involved with Blind Veterans UK after we were selected to complete the interior design element of their new Rustington Centre. As a designer with a visual impairment, this was especially meaningful to me.

“The design process was adapted to ensure that the veterans involved in the consultation could understand the refurbishment plans. The presentations were more sensory, and we guided the veteran’s hands around the floor plans so they could get a sense of how they would navigate the new centre.

“I wanted to support the charity’s Gift a Wreath campaign again this year as the charity is close to my heart in so many ways.”

Individual gifters

Gift a Wreath is open to individuals as well as businesses and organisations. Second World War veteran Nancy laid one of these wreaths during the Remembrance Service at our Rustington Centre.

103-year-old blind veteran Nancy joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service in February 1942. She was selected for Officer Cadet Training and commissioned in August 1943 and was then stationed at a gun site in Swansea until the end of the war.

Nancy now resides at the Rustington Centre. Nancy spoke to us ahead of laying the wreath and said:

“It’s important to me that as long as there is breath in my body, I will go to a war memorial, to a service of Remembrance, and I will lay a wreath.”

The individual who gifted this wreath says:

“I feel privileged that Nancy laid the wreath. She has my gratitude and admiration for all she did in the war.”