Heywood Blind Centre 20th anniversary

Councillor Peter Rush, volunteer’s and visitors celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Heywood Blind Centre

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Heywood Blind Centre celebrated the 20th Anniversary of being in the present building, by having an afternoon tea, brought in by the owners of the Café in the Park.

Councillor Peter Rush joined some of the many volunteer’s and weekly visitors to mark the occasion. 

Councillor Rush said: “The original building for the Blind Welfare Society was set up as a Rotary project by the late, past president of Rotary, Jim Rowbotham.

“Jim started by collecting money in 1979 from fellow Rotarians and then organised other fund-raising events, this has continued to this present day.

“Jim also started the Heywood Talking Newspaper for the Blind with his volunteer readers and religiously, personally, posted the tapes every Wednesday afternoon for 25 years never missing a week.

“The Talking newspaper continued after Jim passed away by the late Tony McSparron and now continues to be read by Monica Rush.

“Mr Martin Persall has been volunteering for many, many years and still is, as the Chairman for the Society and does a marvellous job.

“We must not forget the ladies who volunteer and come along week after week through sunshine and rain to make the visitors to the centre enjoy their couple of hours a week.

“The centre is open every Thursday from 1.00pm till 4.00pm and new members are always welcome.

“Some weeks there is live music or maybe a quiz, an interesting speaker or a local choir, but there is always plenty of laughter.

“If there is anyone who would like to receive a copy of the talking newspaper then please contact the Blind Centre on 01706 369382 or Monica Rush on 01706 364057.”