page_title: Blesma, The Limbless Veterans
section_title: Milestones
hierarchical_section_title: Blesma, The Limbless Veterans / Milestones
caption_attribution_description: English: 1st BLESMAG
context_page_description: Blesma, The Limbless Veterans is a British charity that helps all serving and ex-Service men and women who have lost limbs, or lost the use of limbs or eyes, to rebuild their lives by providing rehabilitation activities and welfare support. It operates throughout the United Kingdom and is a registered charity.
context_section_description: 1932 – Blesma formed as a national charity, first annual conference held in Manchester.
  1945 – Blesmag started.
  1946 – Blesma Advisory Council formed.
  1947 – Charles Dunham appointed Employment and Welfare Officer.
  1948 – Blesma National Appeal Committee formed. Duchess of Gloucester becomes Patron of Blesma.
  1949 – Cyril Stephens appointed National President in succession to Arthur Baxter. Blesma Headquarters Welfare Committee formed. Official opening of the Blackpool Home.
  1951 – Blesma All-Party Committee of MPs formed.
  1954 – Opening of Blesma Portsmouth Home.
  1958 – Transfer of Blesma HQ from Manchester to Cannon Street, London. Charles Dunham appointed National General Secretary. Grant of Armorial Bearings to Blesma.
  1959 – Number of First World War limbless drops below 20,000.
  1963 – Opening of Blesma Crieff Home. Blesma joins World Veterans Foundation.
  1965 – Blesma HQ moved to Chadwell Heath, Essex.
  1966 – Amputees Advisory Service for hospital visiting introduced by Blesma. Recommendations of McCorquodale Committee accepted.
  1970 – Funds raised by Blesma National Appeal Committee passes £1million mark.
  1975 – Philip Dixon appointed National Chairman in succession to Ernie Law. Portsmouth Home closed. First World War limbless drops below 4,000.
  1976 – Members ascend Mount Snowdon with Prince Charles.
  1977 – Blesma welfare grants annually exceed £50,000.
  1978 – Blesma film ‘So Much To Offer’ released, with commentary by Kenneth More. Blesma float joins the Lord Mayors Show in central London.
  1979 – Hrubec/Ryder report on amputations and cardio-vascular disorder published and accepted by the Government.
  1980 – Mr Ted Lawrence takes over as National Welfare Officer.
  1981 – Mr Brian Fox takes over as National General Secretary. Limbless ex-servicemen down to about 10,000. Himalayan peak of Nun Kun (23,410 ft) climbed by Ealing Member, Norman Croucher.
  1982 – Blesma Golden Jubilee
  1983 – Sir Austin ‘Tiny’ Bunch CBE takes over as National President
  1989 – Ray Holland takes over as National General Secretary
  1992 – Duke of Westminster takes over as National President
  2000 – Jerome Church OBE takes over as National General Secretary
  2013 – General Secretary role changes to Chief Executive. New Magazine
  2014 – Barry Le Grys MBE takes over as Chief Executive. Renaming of charity from BLESMA (British Limbless Ex-Servicemen’s Association) to Blesma, The Limbless Veterans. The inaugural Invictus Games in London featured more than 400 competitors, both serving personnel and veterans, from 13 nations, including 46 Blesma Members.
  2015 – The White Report commissioned by Blesma and written by triple amputee Member Jon White, was the most detailed study of how the nation's 160 most complex war wounded men and women are treated. It found failings across the NHS and called for a fresh approach to their care, resulting in a number of improvements made by the NHS.
  2016 - Those who lose the use of their limb(s) through a traumatic incident that is not service related are now eligible for the charity's support. Blesma's Blackpool home closed with the 12 remaining residents moved to different nursing homes across the North West.
caption: 1st BLESMAG
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