Faithful guide dog Lewis set for retirement

Frank Salt with guide dog Lewis who is retiring

After years of faithful service to his owner, Frank Salt, Castleton’s well-known guide dog, Lewis, will retire on Monday 7 September.

Due to the pandemic, Lewis, 11, has had to postpone his retirement for six months. Guide dogs typically retire between the ages of 9-11 after around seven or eight years of service.

Aside from duties around Castleton, Lewis has also worked for Transport for Greater Manchester during inspections of all the Metrolink stops before they open to the public.

Lewis has become a regular at meetings, including STORM, the Friends of Castleton Station, the Friends of Carnegie Castleton – and is also a member of the Woolworth’s Club, membership number ‘K9’.

Hard-working Lewis will have a well-earned retirement with a family in Market Drayton, Shropshire, and will be very much missed by Frank, his family and regulars at Woolies, where he will bid farewell on Sunday 6 September.

Frank will be joined by his fourth guide dog, welcoming Ronnie to Castleton on Wednesday 9 September.

Frank said: "The bond which exists between blind people and their guide dogs is a very special one.

“Although Lewis is my third guide dog, he is very special to me as he has seen me through a very dark time since the sudden death of my loving wife Yvonne in 2017.

"I will begin training around Castleton on Wednesday 9 September with my new guide dog, Ronnie, who I am told is more of a yellow colour than Lewis’ almost white.”

Lewis will also be missed by all the children at Castleton's primary schools where he has over the past few years attended with Frank and Mayor Billy Sheerin to give talks to the children of the dangers of trespass on the railway.