Mayor welcomes Blind Veterans UK delegation to the Town Hall

Cllr Tom Mahoney welcomed Rugby members of the national charity to the Town Hall during Armed Forces Week.

Blind Veterans UK was founded in 1915 and was originally known as the Blinded Soldiers' and Sailors' Care Committee. 

It became St Dunstan's in 1923 before changing its name to Blind Veterans UK six years ago to raise public awareness of the charity's work supporting vision-impaired ex-servicemen and servicewomen.

The charity, which also supports individuals who carried out National Service, offers a wide range of services to help members lead independent lives, from offering training and recreation opportunities to providing long-term nursing, residential and respite care.

Cllr Mahoney, who served in the Queen's Own Hussars cavalry regiment, has made 'service' the theme of his Mayoral year and said he was delighted to meet members of Blind Veterans UK.

"I have chosen to support the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) during my Mayoral year as, having served in the armed forces, I appreciate only too well the vital support charities such as SSAFA and Blind Veterans UK offer our ex-servicemen and servicewomen," Cllr Mahoney added.

"It was a pleasure to welcome members of the charity to the parlour and find out more about the charity's work."

Jennie Hammond, community team leader at Blind Veterans UK, said: "We're delighted that Cllr Tom Mahoney has chosen 'service' as the theme for his year in office and that, as an ex-serviceman, he has shown such a keen interest in veterans' issues.

"Our blind veterans were delighted to meet with him to discuss the support on offer to vision-impaired ex-service men and women in the local community and we look forward to working closely together in the future."

Photo caption: The Mayor of Rugby, Cllr Tom Mahoney, welcomed (back row, left to right) Peter Robinson, Thomas Richards, Christopher Tanner, Clide Heedick, David McDonough, (front row, left to right) Michael Hands and Michael Pittem from Blind Veterans UK to a reception at the Mayor's Parlour.