Talking newspaper's tribute to volunteer

For 33 years since the organisation's inception, Peter Horne has been a familiar and much-admired part of the charity's free weekly news and current affairs service for registered blind and partially-sighted people locally.

Last Wednesday afternoon, association chairman Brian Kentfield made a presentation to Peter, who has stood down as leader of one of the organisation's magazine teams.

It is in this role that Peter's voice has become so familiar to listeners.

The occasion was the annual spring tea in St Martha's Church Hall, Little Common, a time when recipients get to meet the volunteers who make the service possible.

This year's tea was organised by association committee member and trustee Christine Madeley. Volunteers had brought more than 40 of the society's 135 regular listeners to the hall by car for the event.

On their behalf, the chairman thanked Peter for more than three decades of devoted service to the talking newspaper.

After being served tea, sandwiches and cakes by volunteers, the guests were entertained by the St Leonards-based Regency Singers. The singers presented a delightfully varied programme, ranging from Vivaldi through songs from much-loved musicals to modern pop.