A BLIND Hartlepool veteran has been chosen to represent a national military charity at this year’s Armed Forces Day event.

Charlie Eastwood will be carrying the official standard for Blind Veterans UK at the opening parade of the nationwide event in Guildford tomorrow (Saturday, June 27), which will be attended by The Duke of York.

He said: “I’m so proud and honoured to have been asked to carry the standard for Blind Veterans UK.

“I’m over the moon to be able to represent the charity that has done so much for me. It’s very humbling as well; it’s giving me a chance to give something back.”

Mr Eastwood joined the Army in 1976 and served as a generator engineer for over 20 years in locations including Germany, Hong Kong, the Caribbean and Canada.

The 55-year-old was diagnosed with the hereditary condition retinitis pigmentosa in 1996, which caused his sight to deteriorate and left him unable to do many things he used to enjoy.

This year will be the seventh annual Armed Forces Day, which is the UK’s celebration of the nation’s Armed Forces, both past and present.