Blind Wiltshire veteran 'honoured' to make history on Remembrance Sunday

She'll become the first blind veteran to lay a wreath alongside her guide dog

Red Remembrance Day poppies and poppy wreaths at the Cenotaph
Author: Sian RochePublished 8th Nov 2025

A blind veteran from Wiltshire is set to make history as she marches at the Cenotaph in London this Remembrance Sunday (9th November).

45-year-old Kelly Ganfield, from Trowbridge, will become the first blind veteran to lay a wreath alongside her guide dog.

She tells us: "It’s an absolute honour to march with Blind Veterans UK on behalf of those no longer here.

"I’ve lost many friends over the years who were part of my Blind Veterans UK family or who served alongside me in the military so it means a great deal to remember them."

Kelly joined the Army in 1998 and served until 2005 with the Adjutant Generals Corp.

As a result of an auto-immune condition that causes blood clots, she suffered a life-changing stroke at the age of 23 which caused her to lose her sight.

Kelly then started to receive support from the Blind Veterans UK charity in 2006.

She'll be marching with representatives from the charity on Sunday: "Being part of the Blind Veterans UK contingent feels like still being a part of the British Army.

“Leading the contingent and laying the wreath on behalf of Blind Veterans UK is a huge privilege and to have my guide dog Archie beside me, enabling me to represent the fantastic work of not only Blind Veterans UK but also Guide Dogs is really special.”

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