'For the real heroes'

Nation pays tribute with Poppy Appeai installations

- By Paul Jeeves

BLIND veteran Ray Peart stands proudly in the centre of a stunning illumination of cascading red poppies — to help shine a light on the nation’s heroes.

The powerful tribute at Gloucester Cathedral is just one art installation marking the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal, which this year aims to highlight servicemen and women who are rebuilding their lives after trauma, injury, or hardship.

Former Glosters Regiment soldier Ray, 80, completed three tours of Northern Ireland before losing his sight in a terrorist bombing in Belfast in 1973.