The Rayleigh & District Talking Newspaper was set up in 1979 and registered as Charity No. 278578. The impetus for its establishment came from Rayleigh Lions, who also provided the funds for the initial purchase of equipment. In January 1980 our first recordings were made and distributed. |
It became apparent in 1998 that we should change our name to better reflect the areas where our listeners lived. The Rayleigh & Rochford TN was born.
Towards the end of the 1990s it was clear that a neighbouring TN, Castle Point, was about to close because (despite lots of press coverage) no volunteers could be found to run it.
So ………… we took it under our wing and, in January 2001, we became The Rayleigh, Rochford & Castle Point TN for the Blind - or RRCPTN.
For some years, recording sessions were held in a local Old People’s Home. In 1988 Rayleigh public library was used and in 1992 (with permission granted by Rochford District Council) in Rayleigh Civic Centre.
In 1998, however, we moved into our own studio at St Luke’s Place, Rochford (the site of the old hospital) where we have been ever since.
Now, however, we have had to move again. On Tuesday 07 November 2023 we took up residence in the Todman Centre. Castle Road. Rayleigh.
Details of our teams can be found on the ‘What we do’ page.
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I would like to congratulate Castle Point Talking Newspaper.
This week, (November 15th 2016) the paper will be recording its 400th edition.
Every two weeks a group of volunteers read articles and news from the Echo.
They also read letters from the paper which I appreciate as they are not read by my own talking newspaper.
Blind and partially sighted people who cannot read ordinary newspapers really appreciate having the news read on tape.
Well done Castle Point Talking Newspapers.
JILL ALLEN-KING O.B.E.
Jill Allen-King, OBE
Jill was just 24 when she went completely blind on her wedding day. Having lost one eye to measles as a baby, glaucoma claimed the other as she was cutting her cake. Jill spent the next seven years virtually housebound, but gradually began to reclaim her independence with the arrival of her first guide dog.
Now with her sixth dog, Jill’s four- legged friends have helped shape her life and allowed her to become a formidable campaigner on behalf of other blind people. She initiated tactile paving in 1978 and was awarded the MBE for that. She continued to campaign for access for guide dogs and was later awarded the OBE. She was a member of the Department of Transport advisory committee for 20 years during which time they introduced legislation for airlines and design features on taxis, buses and trains.
Amongst her many charitable activities Jill has been a volunteer for the National Federation of the Blind of the UK, a founder member of the Guide Dog Federation, a council member of the Royal National Institute of the Blind, a life member of the Circle of Guide Dog Owners, a tireless fundraiser for Guide Dogs for the Blind, as well as being a member of the European Blind Union, which she represents on the EGDF board.
Thank you so very much Jill, we appreciate all that you have done and all that you still do, for blind and partially sighted people.
rrandcptn@yahoo.co.uk
©2008 - 2024 Rayleigh, Rochford & Castle Point TN | Registered Charity No. 278578