Blind Veterans UK

When Jamie Met Sir David Attenborough at the North Pole

In 2010, blind veteran Jamie travelled to the top of the world to take part in the North Pole Marathon. While there, he had an unexpected encounter with Sir David Attenborough, who was in the Arctic filming Frozen Planet. Sitting opposite each other in a tent on the ice, Jamie interviewed Sir David for our magazine, Review. In this archive recording, Sir David talks about filming in the polar regions, the making of Frozen Planet, and his personal connection to Blind Veterans UK, formerly St Dunstan’s. As Sir David celebrates his 100th birthday, we’re sharing this remarkable recording from the top of the world. Listen to Jamie’s interview with Sir David Attenborough at the North Pole.

16: Op Telic, 15 years on - Ben's story

On 22 May 2011, British forces withdrew from Iraq for the last time, marking the end of Operation Telic. To mark the 15th anniversary, we spoke to Ben, a blind veteran of the 3rd Battalion Rifles. Five days before the end of his second tour, Ben’s patrol was hit by an IED near Basra. He was 26. The injuries he sustained were catastrophic. In this episode, he talks about what happened that day, the long road to recovery, and how Blind Veterans UK helped him rebuild his life. If you, or someone you know, served in the Armed Forces and is now struggling with sight loss, get in touch with Blind Veterans UK by visiting blindveterans.org.uk/apply [http://blindveterans.org.uk/apply]

14: Remembrance 2025: Honour their service, support their future

In this special Remembrance 2025 podcast, two generations of veterans - Michael, a 101-year-old Second World War veteran, and Wayne, a former Royal Armoured Corps soldier - share a moving conversation about service, sacrifice, and sight loss.

13: VE Day 80: After the Darkness - A podcast special

The wartime heroes we support today share their powerful stories of VE Day, 80 years on.

12: Remembering Afghanistan - Rob's story

As we mark the 10th anniversary of the end of Operation Herrick, or British operations in Afghanistan, on 12 December 2014, we speak to former frontline soldier, Rob, who was just 23 when he lost his sight in action.