Blind veteran forgives the mentally ill attacker who stole his sight

Blind veteran forgives the mentally ill attacker who stole his sight Veteran Clive Jones MBE, a poppy collector, says he is a better person and would not turn back to before the attack which left him blind A blind veteran has forgiven the mentally ill attacker who stole his sight because he says it helped him become a nicer person. Grandfather Clive Jones MBE, 51, former Welsh Guardsman, was attacked on his 26th birthday in December 2000. He said of the unprovoked attack from behind: "It was in camp and the guy, another serving soldier who was later diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia,” he explained. “But if you ask me; 'Do I hate the man?' No. 'Do I blame him?' Absolutely not. 'Do I like what he did? No. “But on the other flip of the coin, it’s opened so many doors for me and it has given me so many opportunities. Things happen for a reason and to be honest with you I am a much better person now. I am a lot more tolerant and definitely more patient, I just think I am a much nicer person.” Dad-of-three Clive, originally from Newport, used sport to help his rehabilitation and is now one of the best blind archers in the world, representing Team GB: "Would I go back to where I was? Absolutely not, 100 per cent. "I’m quite happy sitting here taking my eyes out every now and again and wiping them and cleaning them, as gross as it sounds. And it’s been through the support of not only my wife and kids, Blind Veterans UK and the Royal British Legion. “I’d be a liar if I didn’t say I’ve had my moments of darkness, I nearly lost everything however you turn yourself around and with help and support but I’m very much comfortable in my life now and it’s been through the support of my wife and kids but also Blind Veterans UK and the RBL. They are just outstanding, phenomenal. You can move on, I’m doing more now than ‘I’ve ever done.”" On Friday poppy collector and charity fundraiser, Allen will be joining thousands of people who will be planting crosses and symbols in The Royal British Legion’s Field of Remembrance, to honour those who lost their lives in conflict and to thank Britain’s biggest military charity. Almost 30,000 tributes from families across the UK and overseas, will be planted at The National Remembrance Gardens in Staffordshire. Grandfather Clive, who is married to Stephanie Jones, and has three children served 12 years in the Army before the attack. He spent six days in a coma “During that time I remember two dreams, the first dream I thought I was actually in a submarine with a nurse up to her knees in water. I could hear a sound like a propeller noise." The noise he says in the real world was him having a CT scan. “In the other dream there was a door with a thin light under it. I got out of bed and a black figure said to me ‘Clive, it’s not your time, get into bed’. That happened about five times. I honestly believe if I’d gone through that door I would be dead. One minute I'm having these dreams and the next thing I'm speaking to someone by my bed.” When he woke from his coma Clive begged one of the doctors to tell him straight what was wrong with his eyes and eventually he was told: ‘Clive your eyes are buggered, you will never see again’. I said 'thank you'. That’s the moment the healing could start. There were no false promises. it was great." On reflection I was just bloody grateful to wake up. I had so much life left to live.” As a blind veteran, he was unsure about participating in the RBL’s Battle Back Centre Veteran multi-activity course, feeling that the centre wouldn’t be able to accommodate his needs. But it led him to find his passion for archery, taking up Archery for the Blind & Visually Impaired in 2001, and ending up number five in Europe and in the World. Urging the public to donate to the RBL he said: “All the donations given by the good public support serving personnel, veterans and their families, in so many different ways and ways they won’t even comprehend. “Just knowing there was somebody there for me was the big one, I was blinded, my army career was over. I was on rubbish tip and then they said to me ‘Clive we’re here for you and that speaks volume. “The best thing they have given me is knowing if I ever need them they will be there.” About travelling to the Field of Remembrance to honour those who died and support the RBL, he added: “I remember my fallen comrades every day, and being among those paying tribute to them is deeply poignant. It is so important that we remember those we have lost and never forget.”