The Sandhurst Trust was proud to support a special event at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst on Friday 13th February, welcoming a group of blind veterans alongside current and prospective corporate partners for an evening of celebration, reflection and connection.

Held in the prestigious Indian Army Memorial Room, the event celebrated the remarkable stories and achievements of veterans supported by Blind Veterans UK, while also strengthening engagement with the corporate partners whose backing makes the charity’s life-changing work possible. The evening was generously sponsored by Amazon and Corps Security.

Guests were warmly welcomed by blind veteran Alan, who shared his personal story and powerful reflections. Brigadier Nick Wight-Boycott OBE then provided a fascinating history of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, highlighting the longstanding connection between the Academy and Blind Veterans UK. Over the years, they have hosted archery competitions at Sandhurst, often competing against sighted teams from the serving Armed Forces - a testament to resilience, skill and enduring partnership.

A particularly memorable moment came when blind veteran Bryan presented Brigadier Wight-Boycott OBE with a painting he had created especially for the Academy. A lifelong artist who has adapted his technique since losing his sight, Bryan’s work depicts four figures: a soldier from the Waterloo era, one from the Second World War, a modern day soldier and a veteran, capturing the enduring spirit of service across generations. Bryan also created an illustration of Old College, which was reproduced as postcards and gifted to guests as a memento of the event.

The evening also recognised the extraordinary contribution of volunteers. Blind Veterans UK volunteer Patrick, known as ‘Paddy’, was presented with the Volunteer Founder’s Award. Nominated by blind veteran Sue, Paddy was praised for his dedication and practical support, from driving veterans to fortnightly arts and crafts clubs, to assisting with walking challenges and a wide range of other activities. He has even taken part in guide dog training sessions alongside Sue and her new guide dog.

In a moment that captured the spirit of both family and service, the award was presented to Paddy by his son, Matthew, who is currently an Officer Cadet at RMAS. It was a proud and moving occasion, warmly received by all in attendance.

The event was made possible through the collaborative efforts of Blind Veterans UK, its corporate partners, the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and the Sandhurst Trust. The Trust events team worked closely behind the scenes to coordinate planning, logistics and delivery, ensuring that the evening reflected the significance of the occasion and honoured both the veterans and the Academy setting.

Reflecting on the occasion, Blind Veterans UK CEO Adrian Bell said:

“This really was a special opportunity to gather our blind veterans together with our current, and possibly future, corporate partners. I would like to offer my congratulations to Bryan and Paddy for their awards and my sincere thanks to Amazon, Corps Security, and The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst for making this event possible.”

The Sandhurst Trust is honoured to have supported an event that celebrated courage, creativity, service and community.