South East London Sight Loss Council: Meet the members

Nicki Guy

Nicki is the Senior Engagement Manager for South England and looks after London Sight Loss Councils. She joined Thomas Pocklington Trust in July 2022 as part of the Sight Loss Councils communications team.

She was diagnosed with chronic anterior uveitis after a routine eye test in 2014, despite having no symptoms. A few years later Nicki received her cataract diagnosis and had surgery whilst living overseas. Following surgery, she suffered low intraocular pressure – also known as hypotony – and lost vision in her right eye as a result. In 2020, and back in the UK, all focus turned to saving her left eye.

Nicki had cataract surgery in 2021 and again, her eye lost all pressure and subsequently, vision. Determined to find a solution, she received an innovative procedure which involved jelly being injected into the back of her eye to retain pressure. Currently vision is stable in her left eye and this process has since been rolled out to other patients at Moorfields Eye Hospital.

Nicki is married to a chef, so good food and good coffee feature heavily in her life. Nicki loves to travel, photography, theatre, and spending time with friends and family.

She is really excited about working with members of London Sight Loss Councils’ and firmly believes that together, they can create an accessible and inclusive capital for blind and partially sighted people.

Liam O'Carroll

Liam was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at the age of 6 and was registered blind aged 11.  He took up the role of Sight Loss Coordinator for London in January 2023.

Liam first joined Thomas Pocklington Trust in 2016. He was later seconded to London Vision, where he worked for five years as Project Coordinator.

Before joining TPT, Liam worked freelance as an actor, performing in roles in television, radio and theatre.  He studied English and Drama at Roehampton University and later gained a Masters at the University of Wales, Bangor. Here, he specialised in Arthurian tradition in twentieth-century fiction.

In his spare time, Liam enjoys writing fiction, reading literature, listening to audio described telly and playing board games.

Leanne Best

Leanne was registered blind at birth, due to her eyes not developing fully during pregnancy.

Leanne has recently moved to London, and lives with her guide Dog Dixy. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, and her interests include watching movies and reading audio books.

Leanne says: “I am looking forward to being part of South East London Sight Loss Council so I can help better the lives of blind and partially sighted people in my area.”

Steven Reed

Steven has been a professional actor for over 20 years, performing on the large and small screen, as well as in theatre. When beginning his sight loss journey, Steven thought his acting career was over. However, the theatre company Extant helped him rediscover his love of performing and see things differently. As such, his career has continued to flourish.

Diagnosed with Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON) in July 2014, Steven has central vision loss. He attended a ‘Living with Sight Loss’ course run by the RNIB in the spring of 2015 and said:

“This peer support course really helped me to overcome some of the barriers I was facing in my daily life. As a result I’m a passionate advocate for the power of peer support. This inspired me to volunteer, and I became a facilitator on the course. In 2020 I became the secretary of my local sight loss organisation, Blind in Greenwich, working closely with other societies and committees across London.”

Denise Brennan

Denise became a volunteer with London SLC in 2023, and has now moved over to South East London SLC.

She was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa in early childhood and is registered severely sight impaired.

Denise works as a social worker and in her spare time, enjoys jazz, dancing, walking and painting landscapes.

She said: “I joined London Sight Loss Council to help campaign for better access and services for visually impaired people.”

Lola Lee-Walsh

Lola was diagnosed with Stargardt’s Disease in 2004 at Moorfields Eye Hospital. Her sight has deteriorated considerably in that time as her macular has degenerated, leaving her to rely on her peripheral vision more and more.

Lola worked as a Management Training Consultant for most of her career, both freelance, and with some large blue-chip organisations.

Lola is married, with three children and five grandchildren.

She said: “By being a SLC member, I hope to increase my confidence and self-esteem through the value I can bring to this role.

“I applied to South East London SLC as I want to be an advocate for blind and partially sighted people. I want to create change that benefits not only myself and the sight loss community, but also those who I share our lived experience with.”

Emilia Okoye

Emilia was born with ocular albinism. She is registered as sight impaired, and lives in South East London.

Emilia is a dedicated Manchester United supporter and speaks at many events relating to disabilities.

Emilia said: “It’s important for individuals who are blind and partially sighted to be involved in making London a better place in terms of accessibility and services. I joined the Sight Loss Council as I want to play my part in making a difference.”

Jordan Brennan

Jordan is 24 and has been vision impaired since birth. His sight loss is caused by an optic nerve glioma, which is a byproduct of Neurofibromatosis.

Jordan enjoys listening to music and audio books and is passionate about technology and cyber security.

Jordan said: “I want to volunteer with Thomas Pocklington Trust because I believe that I can bring my own personal and unique lived experiences to South East London Sight Loss Council. I want to work with other volunteers to improve the lives of other blind and partially sighted people in London. In addition, I hope to improve my own confidence and independence, which will lead me to gaining even more valuable experience.”