Q & A with Richard Burt, blind former Paralympic skier

Q & A with Richard Burt

by Mary Myers, TisTalk

Richard Burt is a British former Paralympic skier who won medals at the 1992 Winter Paralympics and 1994 Winter Paralympics. 

He’s blind and with his trusty guide-dog, Dilly, he is a familiar figures in our area.  He lives in Ansty.

We were delighted to welcome Richard on to TisTalk on June 23^rd 2025, to chat about a sponsored walk Richard did recently in aid of Wiltshire Sight, hiking with his dog and a human guide from Brighton to Salisbury (128 miles over 4 days) – raising £2,400.

Here are some fun extra questions we did not have space to broadcast.

TisTalk: What gets you out of bed in the morning Richard?

Richard Burt: Just living in the countryside, I love my garden. I wake up early and have a cup of coffee outside, listening to the birds.

TisTalk: What’s your favourite disc that you’d take to a Desert Island?

Richard: It would have to be Ska music, Bad Manners, ‘Walking in the Sunshine’, which is appropriate at the moment.

TisTalk: What do you like most about Tisbury and the Nadder Valley?

Richard: The people around here are amazing!  The girls at Coffee Angels, the local barbers…there’s still community spirit around here.

TisTalk: What do you most DISLIKE about Tisbury and the Nadder Valley?

Richard: Lack of public transport and lack of a reliable taxi service.  But apart from that I don’t have too many grumbles. 

TisTalk: I know you’re blind but can I ask you about your favourite local view?

Richard: [Laughs] As a boy growing up round here, I had slightly better sight then, so I’d choose any of the views from the Shaftsbury Drove back into Salisbury.  Also Wardour Castle, looking down from the bridleway over Wardour Valley, that’s beautiful.  On a good bright morning I can pick things out because I know they are there but I can’t see any detail.  The smell of the pine forest round Wardour, the bluebells, the wild garlic, the birds, all those trigger memories of views I had as a boy.

TisTalk: Complete this sentence: Not many people know this about Tisbury but…

Richard: I could start off with the Nadder Sports Centre and how it enables us to have our coffee mornings here with Wiltshire Sight – not many people know about that.  It’s something that helps anyone in the village or surrounding area who’s struggling with their eyesight.  So, if you don’t know which way to turn, please come and make contact! There’s a varied group of all ages here, with all different eye conditions, so there’s plenty of help on offer.

TisTalk: Now quick fire...

Dogs or Cats? Dogs

Tea or Coffee? Coffee

Beer or wine? Beer

Football or Rugby… Oh that’s a hard one.  Can I say downhill skiing instead?

BBC Radio One, Two, Three or Six for music?  I’m a Six Music man.  I listen to a lot of radio, lots of podcasts, lots of music.

Richard Burt with guide dog, Dilly (photo Mary Myers)

Richard Burt (left), Winter Paralympics 1994, Lillehammer, Norway. Photo ParalympicsGB Twitter