A blind veteran from Stithians will celebrate Blind Veterans UK’s 100th anniversary at a special garden party at Buckingham Palace on Thursday, June 4.

William Burke, 85, who will be accompanied by his wife, Lilian, and joined by 1,000 other veterans, served in the Royal Navy between 1945 and 1969 working in radio communications. Retiring as a Chief Petty Officer, he served on submarines, destroyers, and an aircraft carrier.

He lost his sight later in life due to age related macular degeneration (ARMD) and started receiving support from Blind Veterans UK in 2009.

William said: “To lose your sight so suddenly as I did is extremely hard. It was such a shock and I became very depressed.

“Realising I wouldn’t be able to drive anymore was the most difficult. In a small village like ours that really affects your independence.”

Since he began to receive help and support from Blind Veterans UK, William has received training and specialist equipment to help him continue to live as independently as possible with sight loss.

“I know that Blind Veterans UK is there for me whenever I need them," he said. "The best piece of equipment the charity has given me is a speaking reader. My wife and I particularly enjoy the social aspect too. We’ve just joined a local lunch club set up by our welfare officer. It makes a huge difference to be able to still get out and see people.”

William and his wife are delighted to have been invited to the royal garden party. “It’s been a very long time since we’ve been to London so we’re a little nervous but really looking forward to it," said Lilian. "A royal garden party is a fine way to top off Bill’s Navy career as well as celebrate the centenary of such a brilliant charity.”

Blind Veterans UK (formerly St Dunstan’s) was founded in 1915 and the charity’s initial purpose was to help and support soldiers blinded in World War I, but the organisation has gone on to support more than 35,000 blind veterans and their families, spanning World War II to recent conflicts including Iraq and Afghanistan.

For 100 years, the charity has been providing vital free training, rehabilitation, equipment and emotional support to blind and vision impaired veterans no matter when they served or how they lost their sight.