MOVING: Blind Worksop veteran reunited with long-lost brother after 14 years

Arnold Peel, aged 86, from Worksop, and his 88-year-old brother Dennis, from Worthing, West Sussex, were reunited for the first time in 14 years at Blind Veterans UK’s training centre in Brighton.

Both brothers are ex-Service men with severe vision-impairments who have received help and support from Blind Veterans UK since 2014.

It was at Arnold’s golden wedding anniversary celebrations, with his wife Ann, in 2002, that the brothers last met.

The pair have kept in contact over the phone, but due to the distance between them it is not easy for them to meet.

Arnold said: “I cannot put into words how much it meant to me. Dennis and I have always been close and enjoyed spending time together, but it just became too difficult to do it as time went on.

“For Blind Veterans UK to bring us both to Brighton at the same time and throw us a party was marvellous.”

Arnold joined the Royal Army Service Corps in 1947 before transferring to the Royal Army Dental Corps the following month and served in Germany. He was discharged in 1949 as a Lance Corporal.

It was years later that Arnold started to lose his sight to age-related macular degeneration. He was registered blind in 2010.

By then, Dennis was already blind and receiving support from the charity, which he recommended to his brother.

Arnold said: “Losing my sight was difficult, but Blind Veterans UK really helped me cope.”

It was the idea of Alison Molloy, a welfare officer with the charity, to invite both of the veterans to Brighton to be reunited.

Now, through the charity, the pair have been able to enjoy a week together for the first time in more than a decade.

Arnold added: I am very grateful Alison was able to make this reunion happen.”