Talking newspaper's hopes to go digital

This was the message chairman Brian Kentfield had for the charity’s annual meeting recently.

The association is examining the options before investing in the remaining equipment to complete the change-over.

This will include memory sticks to issue to listeners every week, “boom box” devices to play the memory sticks and bulk copiers to produce the memory sticks.

The talking paper has relied on cassette tapes since its launch in 1977. But this out-moded technology will soon go out of production.

Bexhill Lions Club were the “fathers” of Bexhill Talking Newspaper. The club held a public meeting in 1976 at which the decision was taken to appeal for volunteers.

The club helped finance the initial venture and provided many of the original officers for the independent charity.

Now the club has offered £500 towards the cost of the final stage of digitalisation. At the annual meeting, the BTNA reviewed a successful year which had included the move to a new studio, two tea-parties for blind listeners plus the traditional Christmas gifts of chocolates.

The chairman thanked all volunteers for their contribution to the service.

But, like all charities, for its work to continue the BTNA is in need of fresh volunteers.

Peter Allen leads the team of coordinators who, working on a rota basis, sort the returned cassettes each week and prepare them for re-recording and issue to listeners. Normally, the rota consists of eight members. But currently it is down to three. Anyone able to help is asked to contact Mr Allen on 01424 844017 or e-mail [email protected]