Miles Hilton-Barber

Miles Anthony Hilton-Barber was born around 1949 in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. His father, Lieutenant-Colonel Maurice Hilton-Barber, was the Director of Civil Aviation in Rhodesia, and Miles initially aspired to follow a similar path as a fighter pilot. However, at the age of 18, he failed an eye exam, and by 21, he was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic condition that would eventually lead to blindness. For nearly thirty years, he believed this condition would significantly limit his life and aspirations.

A turning point in Hilton-Barber’s life occurred after his brother, Geoff Hilton-Barber, who also had the same condition and was fully blind by 40, achieved a significant milestone. In 1997, Geoff became the first blind sailor to cross an ocean solo, sailing from Durban, South Africa, to Perth, Australia. This achievement deeply inspired Miles, prompting him to pursue his own adventurous endeavors. Since then, Hilton-Barber has undertaken numerous expeditions globally, dedicated to raising awareness and funds for charitable organizations and the visually impaired community at large.

His remarkable career as a blind adventurer includes a wide array of challenging feats. These have included flying from London to Sydney in a microlight aircraft, climbing Mont Blanc, and running across the Gobi Desert. Hilton-Barber has become a widely sought-after motivational speaker, sharing his experiences and insights from these challenges with audiences around the world, emphasizing themes of overcoming adversity and achieving one’s dreams regardless of perceived limitations.