30 years of reading the news
Celebrations to mark the 30th anniversary of Newark and District Talking Newspaper will take place next month.
A tea party will be held at Coddington Community Centre on September 29 for users and volunteers with the service.
The project was set up in 1982, after being instigated by Advertiser director, the late Miss Roma Parlby.
At its peak 250 tapes were delivered to the blind and partially sighted. That number has fallen to about 74 users today.
Co-ordinator Mr Derek Dickinson said some users had died but he felt numbers had also fallen because medical advances meant that more could be done to help people with sight problems.
More than 80 volunteers work in five teams on a rota basis at the Advertiser offices on Thursday evenings, acting as editors, readers and technicians.
“We are lucky that we have got a very good set of volunteers who come along and give up their time,” said Mr Dickinson:
The news from the paper’s four editions is recorded on to a memory stick, which replaced the original tape system.
It is delivered free by the Post Office and once the users have listened to the news the stick is posted back to be used again.
Mr Dickinson has been involved with the project since it started.
He began as a technician and passed his skills on to other volunteers.
He became co-ordinator in 1988. His wife, Mrs Brenda Dickinson, is one of the volunteer editors.
Mrs Wendy Pease has also been involved since the start and signed up, along with her late husband Mr John Pease, as a volunteer reader.
She said: “We thought it was a brilliant idea and were happy to be involved.
“It is not a difficult thing to do but is something that can make such a difference.”
Letters have been sent inviting people to the anniversary party, but the committee wants to hear from anyone who would like an invitation but has not received one. They are also looking for people to come forward with photographs and memories of the service.
More information is available from the secretary, Susan Robinson-Marsh, on 07772 336857.