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'It's a very proud moment to wear the uniform'

BBC The Black Country flag, the Union flag, a photo of King Charles, wearing military uniform and medals, in a golden frame and a man sitting in navy blue military uniform with brown leather gloves and a navy and red peaked cap BBC
Dave Heeley handed out citizenship certificates in a ceremony at Sandwell Register Office

He's one of the Black Country's best-known charity fundraisers, who many people associate with marathon running, long-distance cycling and a passion for West Bromwich Albion.

But now Dave Heeley, who's universally known as "Blind Dave", has a civic role to play in his home borough of Sandwell.

The 67-year-old is now a Deputy Lieutenant, part of the West Midlands Lord Lieutenancy.

"It's a very proud moment for me and I feel very privileged to put that uniform on and that OBE medal on my chest," said Mr Heeley.

West Midlands Lieutenacy A man in military uniform stood next to a flag. The uniform is navy blue with white shoulder straps and red collar strips. The man's cap is navy blue with a red band and white embroidery on the peak. The uniform has five silver buttonsWest Midlands Lieutenacy
Lord Lieutenant Derrick Anderson is former chief executive of Wolverhampton Council and was a non-executive director of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

There are 70 Deputy Lieutenants in the West Midlands supporting Lord Lieutenant Derrick Anderson - Mr Heeley is one of six focusing on Sandwell.

The responsibilities of Lord Lieutenants include arranging visits by members of the Royal family, taking part in civic and voluntary events and working with local military units.

A man in navy blue military uniform with a brown leather belt and a navy and red peaked cap. He is wearing an OBE medal and is standing next to the Black Country flag and Union flag with his golden retriever guide dog in the foreground and a female mayor in her red and brown robes to his left. In the background is a photograph of King Charles.
Mr Heeley was joined at the latest citizenship ceremony by Sandwell's Mayor, Councillor Syeda Khatun
A line-up of nine people with a large cheque on the side of a football pitch. There are seven men and two women. Five of them are wearing lime green tabards. The man in the centre is wearing military uniform.
Mr Heeley wore his Deputy Lieutenant uniform at West Bromwich Albion's Remembrance fixture against Burnley.

"I wore the uniform at the match and I was expecting a bit of ribbing, but it was so lovely, people telling me that I scrubbed up well and asking about the Lord Lieutenancy," said Mr Heeley.

"We're representing the Lord Lieutenant, who in turn is representing the King, and it gives me the opportunity to promote the role."

Floral decorations in the foreground - white and pink blooms. In the background, guests at a citizenship ceremony listen to a man in a military uniform with his guide dog
People must have lived in the UK for five years to apply for citizenship

The appointment as a Deputy Lieutenant is especially important to a man who dreamed of a career in the armed forces as a teenager before a degenerative eye disease led to sight loss.

"When I was 18, I wanted a career in the armed forces," he said.

"For obvious reasons it didn't happen, so for over 50 years I've dreamed of wearing a military uniform.

"I had a stint in the army cadets when I was a kid and really loved the life and it's taken me 50 years to become a Deputy Lieutenant and I've now got the opportunity to put the Crown's uniform on my back.

"And, goodness me, that is a proud feeling, and dreams do come true."

Two men on a tandem cycle. The front rider is wearing a blue and white halved cycling shirt and black cycle helmet. The back rider is a lime green gillet and a helmet with a camera on top. They are pedalling uphill with green woodland to their left
Mr Heeley and his tandem pilot Steve Dugmore were part of a team that spent a week travelling through France and Belgium in September

Team Blind Dave raised £80,000 for The Albion Foundation with a 1,000km (621-mile) cycle ride along the Western Front Way through the World War One battlefields of France and Belgium.

On his return, Mr Heeley attended several Sandwell Remembrance events.

"For me to come back from the Western Front Way and be involved in the Remembrance events in this role was just incredible."

And he has taken part in three citizenship ceremonies at Sandwell Register Office, with the latest seeing 24 people becoming UK citizens.

"I hadn't got a clue what the citizen ceremony was about, but now I'm a part of it, I'm told there are so many smiles on faces and that is a really lovely thing," said Mr Heeley.

A group of 21 people at a UK citizenship ceremony. Nineteen have their certificates and seated are a deputy lieutenant in military uniform and the female mayor of Sandwell.
Mr Heeley met people from 11 different countries at the latest UK citizenship ceremony at Sandwell Register Office
A golden retriever guide dog wearing a black and white bandana bib with several badges attached
And wherever Mr Heeley goes, his guide dog Peter is sure to follow, complete with West Bromwich Albion and Black Country flag badges

"I truly hope that kids in this area, or anywhere for that matter, will see a blind man in a uniform and think anything is possible if you put your mind to it," said Mr Heeley.

"And I hope it inspires blind or other disabled people to believe in themselves."

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