A proud Remembrance Sunday for 101-year-old WWII blind veteran as she marches at the Cenotaph for the first time with charity that’s “always there”

“I couldn’t believe it when they told me what I was going to do. I knew nothing about air mechanics and I’d never even done any DIY. It was important work, and it brought us close to the realities of training. Sometimes the young airmen hadn’t quite got the hang of swooping away and ended up in the sea, which was very sad.”

“It’s very hard when you lose your sight. You’re constantly having to ask people to help you with things you never needed before. I can’t tie my shoelaces and can’t see the words I’ve written down.”

“It’s so nice to know that the charity is always going to be here for me when I need them. I know if I ever have a problem I can just get in touch with my support worker and they’ll be able to sort out anything that’s in the way.

“We’ve got a lovely group of us that get together. It’s so helpful to meet others going through the same thing as we can all learn from each other.

“The charity has even given me equipment to help me maintain my independence which is so important to me. I have a magnifier which means I can use my little remaining sight to read magazines and even very small passages from the Bible.”

“Remembrance means a great deal to me. It goes back through my family's history to my two uncles who were killed at the Somme in the First World War. Every year my mother would take me to Westminster Abbey to remember them, and that sense of remembrance has stayed with me throughout my life. It’s something I have always felt deeply connected to.

“I’m very proud to be part of the Remembrance parade. For many years I’ve watched it on television, and now I have the privilege of taking part myself. It's so important that we continue to remember those who sacrificed their lives for us.”

“Every November, we honour those who served our country, remembering their sense of duty, sacrifice and service. This Remembrance Sunday, I am proud to march alongside our blind veterans as we remember those who gave their lives in service to our country and reflect on the contribution of all who have served.

“This year also marks a number of significant anniversaries, including 35 years since the end of Operation Desert Storm, the liberation of Kuwait by Coalition Forces, and 15 years since the end of Operation Telic, UK military operations in Iraq. These milestones remind us of the enduring impact of military service and the importance of ensuring veterans receive the support they need long after their service has ended.”