He was born in Nelson, Wales, and joined the prestigious Welsh Guards at the age of seventeen. In 1982, he was with other members of his regiment on the ship, the RFA Sir Galahad, just off the Falkland Islands, when it was set on fire by enemy bombs. Weston survived with terrible burns, following which his face was unrecognisable. Rejecting the extensive plastic surgery which might have helped him return to something like his original appearance, Weston set out to give hope and courage to other sufferers. His work for charity made him a celebrity and gained him the OBE.