Exeter veteran to join Cenotaph march-past in charity delegation
A former RAF Police dog handler, originally from Exeter, is one of 44 veterans, carers, and staff from Help for Heroes, who will pay tribute to their fallen comrades by joining the Cenotaph march-past on Remembrance Sunday (10 November), in London.
In total, 33 veterans who have been supported by the Charity, will form part of Help for Heroes’ largest delegation yet to attend the annual parade, which sees 10,000 members of the veteran community marching shoulder to shoulder in an act of remembrance along Whitehall.
Dean Hinton, 61, a former pupil at Exeter’s Bradley Rowe Primary and Hele's Schools, and who now lives in Cambridgeshire, served for almost 25 years with various units and was based overseas at RAF Belize, RAF Akrotiri, and in Oman during that time. He was discharged in 2005 because of epilepsy and was later diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and melanoma.
His support from Help for Heroes has included activities such as sit skiing, coffee mornings, and day events at Sandringham and Anglesey Abbey.
While he was based in Cyprus, as part of the Joint Police Unit, Dean was part of the contingent that helped with the repatriation of the Military Police killed in Iraq, in 2002, and colleagues such as these will be foremost in his mind when he participates in his first Cenotaph parade.
He said: “It has always been part of my life that has been observed with great respect for those who have been injured or lost their lives defending our country. I’m very proud of my time served, but, also, sadness thinking of all personnel who were not as lucky as me.
A spokesman for Help for Heroes added: “As we join the nation to commemorate the men and women who lost their lives while serving our country, Help for Heroes also remembers those still fighting their own battles today.
“We remain at the side of veterans, like Dean, and their families who are struggling with painful injuries, mental trauma, isolation, and more – providing life-changing support for as long as it takes.”
Help for Heroes champions the Armed Forces community and helps them live well after service. The charity helps veteran families to recover and get on with their lives. Thanks to the generosity of the British public, it has already supported more than 31,000 people and won’t stop until every veteran gets the support they deserve.
The Charity supports veteran families, from any branch of the UK military – regulars or reserves – irrespective of length or place of service, and locally embedded civilians (and their families) who worked under the command of UK Armed Forces.
n Supporting our veterans is a wonderful living tribute to the memory of the fallen. To support Help for Heroes in transforming lives, please visit helpforheroes.org.uk/donate.
