A BLIND RAF veteran from Banbury will get the chance to meet royalty next week as part of the celebrations for the Queen's 90th birthday.

John Cantwell, 68, has been chosen to represent charity Blind Veterans UK at the Patron's Lunch on the Mall outside Buckingham Palace on June 12.

The lunch is being held to recognise more than 600 organisations that hold Her Majesty's patronage.

Mr Cantwell joined the Royal Air Force in 1970 and was part of the Motor Transport Division, having first trained at RAF St Athan in South Wales.

He was stationed as far afield as Anguilla and Cyprus, where he met his wife Elaine who was working as an RAF nurse.

At the lunch he will represent Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for blind and vision-impaired ex-service men and women.

He said: "My wife and I were lucky enough to meet the Countess of Wessex recently when we were invited for tea with a fellow blind veteran who had made her a bird box for her garden.

"Neither of us have ever met the Queen though.

"I, and all blind veterans are hugely proud to be part of a charity that has the Queen as its patron and I know that it will be a fantastic day."

Mr Cantwell joined the charity six years ago after suffering from a genetic skin disease called keratosis pilaris – or "chicken skin" disease.

Although the disease has never troubled him, a side effect after leaving the RAF in 1980 was that it made him lose his sight.

He said: "It was very gradual so I had time to adjust.

"The doctors told me they couldn't do anything to fix my eyes, which strangely was a blessing as I had to accept it.

"It made me adapt to my circumstances.

"When you lose your sight you're in a shell, and you do not realise what you can do.

"Blind Veterans showed me what was possible and now I do a full range of activities."

Since joining the charity Mr Cantwell has taken part in skiing, cycling and archery, as well as organising a local lunch club for other blind veterans.

Later this month the veteran will also be taking on a 100 kilometre walk in just 24 hours to raise money for Blind Veterans UK.

He will join a team of blind veterans in Yorkshire, and at 68 is thought to be the oldest walker taking part.

To sponsor him go to justgiving.com/John Cantwell.