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FROM CHIEF EXECUTIVE BRIDGET WARR #2 A LIFE LESS ORDINARY #3 A DOG MAN TO THE BONE #4 IT'S A TRAINER'S LIFE #5 A GIRL'S BEST FRIEND! #6 GROOMED FOR SUCCESS! #7 VOLUNTEERING - MAKING A DIFFERENCE THROUGH THE YEARS #8 CELEBRATING 75 YEARS OF FUNDRAISING #9 CHANGING LIVES #10 CAMPAIGNING COMES OF AGE #11 HEALTHY EYES ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This publication was produced and distributed for TNAUK using software developed by Neil McLachlan and Isaac Porat. AMPS V 1.519, 11 May 2003 ISO-646 S-MHTM ---------------------------------------------------------------------- YY060902 #1 WELCOME... FROM CHIEF EXECUTIVE BRIDGET WARR ...to this special souvenir publication marking the 7 th anniversary of the first guide dogs to be trained in the UK. I'm sure many readers will be filled with nostalgia at the memories it evokes, others will relive the excitement of the events held during this anniversary year - and everyone will be looking forward with anticipation to the next 7 years! The rich heritage we enjoy today owes so much to those pioneering individuals back in the 19 0s. I wonder whether Allen Caldwell with Flash, G W Lamb with Meta, Musgrave Frankland with Judy, and Thomas ap Rhys with Folly realised that the important journey they undertook in 19 1 would lead to over 21,000 blind and partially-sighted people experiencing the life-transforming independence, freedom and dignity a guide dog provides? One thing they probably would not have envisaged is how the streets they knew then would change so dramatically, and how much more challenging they have become for guide dogs today. So what have the past 7 years given us? Of course, there are all those thousands of extraordinary partnerships that have been created. There are the decades of accumulated knowledge and experience which is manifested in the skill and dedication of our staff. There is the loyal army of volunteers - brood stock holders, puppy walkers, boarders, drivers, fundraisers, trustees to name but some - without whose skills, energy and commitment we just could not operate. And, finally, there are all those supporters and donors whose generosity has given the funds to enable us to provide our services. We can look back with pride and, importantly, we can look forward with confidence. We are now committed to a strategy for the next five to ten years through which we will seek to improve and expand the guide dog service; extend services to children and young people; seek the best possible rehabilitation services for all blind and partially-sighted people; campaign for equal access for guide dog owners and other visually-impaired people; and help to reduce or slow down the onset of blindness and promote the importance of eye care. These are all very important aims, and, while the chimes of Big Ben welcoming in 2007 will mean our 7 th anniversary year is over, our work carries on into what we trust will be a long and happy future! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright (c) Forward Magazine Souvenir 2006... 2006 YY060902 #2 A LIFE LESS ORDINARY The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association owes its existence and success to literally thousands of people. Yet no one worked harder, nor made a more important contribution, than the Association's pioneering guide dog trainer, Captain Nikolai Liakhoff. His granddaughter, Olga Bibikoff, has recently been looking at his life's work through letters, journals and cuttings left to her. She talked to John Grainger. Captain Liakhoff's early life was both glamorous and shot through with tragedy. During the Russian Revolution of 1917, he fought with the Imperial Russian Guard as a young Cossack cavalry officer and was also aide-de-camp to a General Wrangel - a great honour at the time. Tragically, he lost half his family in the war against the Bolsheviks. Leaving his homeland, he headed south. "It was when he was in the former Yugoslavia," says Olga, "that he met my grandmother, (Princess) Irene Ourousoff. She was working for the British Government and also nursing wounded troops at the time." The couple later married in Constantinople (now Istanbul). They settled in Paris, where he made ends meet by driving taxis. As a soldier, he had had his horse shot from under him and landed on his knees, shattering both kneecaps and giving him recurrent pain for the rest of his life. He also had lung problems, and it was when he was in Switzerland taking a rest-cure that he first came into contact with Dorothy Eustis's pioneering guide dogs - and became a trainer himself. "He had always been a naturalist as a child and had a real empathy with animals," says Olga, "so I think he must have had a very instinctive approach when it came to training the dogs." It was certainly not long before Liakhoff was highly thought of - and highly sought after. (Years later, Barbara Woodhouse, who went on to become a legendary dog trainer, would visit him regularly for advice). He was offered a place at Morristown, New Jersey, but when a trainer was needed in Britain, he decided to go there instead, in part because it was a monarchy. He later wrote: "For me England is not my mother - my mother is Russia and for me she is dead - so I give to England, my chosen foster-mother, all the loyalty and affection which I formerly gave to Russia." It was, for England, a very good deal. With his strong accent, monocle and silver-tipped sword-stick, Captain Liakhoff was said by many to possess 'Hollywood charisma'. Yet he was also, by many accounts, a very kind and compassionate man, whose disciplinarian streak was tempered by a wicked sense of humour. His impact on the British guide dog movement was incalculable. He made goggles that simulated blindness (the Association's very first 'sim specs') and designed guide dog harnesses that would be familiar to guide dog owners today. He did a lot of work on bloodlines and planned a breeding programme as early as the 19 0s, although the money to implement his plans didn't become available until the 19 0s. He actually invented puppy walking - his two daughters were the world's first puppy walkers. Crucially, and perhaps most impressively, he worked out - from scratch - training methods that are still in daily use around the world today. "He was a perfectionist and always felt he had to get things right first time," says Olga, "but of course, that perfectionism demanded a huge amount of time; he'd work every hour of every day. His dedication was truly amazing." Yet, despite Captain Liakhoff's love of animals, it wasn't just about the dogs. "Reading through his papers, it's quite clear that he did it all for the guide dog trainees," says Olga. "He had an extraordinary sense of duty, which is very rare these days. He could have left England a year or two after he'd arrived here - he'd had a very good offer from Australia - but he decided to stay on. It was an honourable decision made from a sense of commitment and loyalty to his new home and to the blind people he'd already got to know. It had become personal for him. Once he and my grandmother had started working with the trainees, they devoted the whole of the rest of their lives to them and to the Association." Yet, despite her grandfather's devotion to duty, Olga doesn't think he would want to be singled out for praise. "I think he'd want to be remembered simply for doing a very good job; for getting it all established and allowing it to flourish. He was a very modest man, but I think he would also be very proud to see what Guide Dogs has grown into." Olga's mother and father, Catherine and Michel Bibikoff, were also guide dog pioneers. Catherine who was very much her father's daughter, was an excellent trainer in her own right, whilst Michel had been Controller at Edmondscote Manor in the early 19 0s. The couple moved to South Africa where they were instrumental in setting up the guide dogs association there. Circumstances meant that Olga, who was born in South Africa, was unable to follow in her father's footsteps, but 'Guide Dogs' is unquestionably in her blood. She has now become guardian of the family archives, and says that the more she learns about her family and its pioneering work, the more fascinating she finds it. "It's been a wonderful experience to delve so deeply into the history of my family's involvement with guide dog training. I am extremely proud of my grandfather's work. His ambition was to help blind and partially-sighted people and he left a priceless legacy, transforming thousands of lives." ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright (c) Forward Magazine Souvenir 2006... 2006 YY060902 #3 A DOG MAN TO THE BONE The legacy of Derek Freeman MBE From a standing start, breeding has become one of Guide Dogs' big success stories. Anne Graham found out more... A mix of technological advances, co-operation with centres overseas and old-fashioned dog husbandry has meant that a regular supply of good quality puppies with the aptitude to train as working dogs is taken for granted. But in its early days the charity had to rely on dogs which were donated by breeders or farmers. Unwanted pets and assorted waifs and strays also came its way as raw material. From all corners of the UK dogs would arrive at Leamington train station with unknown health and temperaments. Unknown quantities meant unpredictable quality and, needless to say, success rates were poor. This meant trainers' hard work often went to waste and would-be guide dog owners were left disappointed. All that changed in the 19 0s when a new face began to revolutionise the charity's 'supply chain' by setting up a dedicated breeding centre. He was Derek Freeman, an engineer looking for a change of career, who had been appointed puppy walking manager. He had a passion for dogs (especially German shepherds), extensive experience in obedience and trials, and a strong will - qualities which stood him in good stead as he pressed for change in dog supply. He started up a breeding project to run alongside the puppy walking scheme, at first on a small scale; but the project soon outgrew its home at Leamington. Serendipity played a part when Tollgate House, near Leamington was bought for the charity by the Charterhouse Organisation for UKP27,000 in the 19 0s. The breeding operation went from strength to strength in its new home and, after 0 years, Derek retired. His legacy lives on in his daughter Helen, formerly a guide dog mobility instructor and trainer and now a brood bitch supervisor based at Tollgate. It's a case of coming home for Helen, who grew up in the caretaker's house with her father, her mother Margaret (then housekeeper at Tollgate House), twin sister Sarah and older sister Judith (now a guide dog mobility instructor in Nottingham). "I always used to say I would do something different from what I was brought up with - and I did work on a farm for a while - but something called me back to Guide Dogs. It must be in my breeding!" says Helen. "As a family we were always surrounded by dogs. At school when we used to write about what we had done at the weekend, other children would write about fairs and swimming and we'd be writing about bitches having Caesarean sections!" Collaboration with similar breeding operations abroad was something Derek saw as crucial, and Helen remembers him travelling to America, Canada and Japan to meet colleagues and exchange ideas - and sometimes dogs. One family holiday was spent motoring to Bordeaux to deliver some puppies as part of the breeding project. As Helen points out: "Working with Guide Dogs is not a nine-to-five job. It becomes part of your life." Her home life is a case in point. In the summer she boarded Ossie, a new stud dog, who had a grand time alongside Helen's pet German shepherd Rhina - named after her father's first brood bitch. And, even off-duty, she is constantly on the lookout for potential brood bitch holders. "It's a great job for the right person," says Helen. "You have to be able to cope with whelping and rearing and it can be hard work but we are always there for them if they need help. The hardest part is when the puppies leave, but the reward is when the photographs arrive of pups who have graduated into working guide dogs." Helen is proud to be carrying on the family tradition from her father who, as it says in a book written about his work ( Barking up the Right Tree, published by Ringpress Books), was a dog man to his bones, who had 20,000 pups pass through his hands and who helped bring Guide Dogs to the attention of the British people through Blue Peter. A hard act to follow, but Helen has the passion and determination to follow boldly in his footsteps. Neil Ewart, who took over from Derek as head of breeding, says: "He was a remarkable man, and thoroughly deserved his MBE. He pushed and pushed to get the breeding scheme off the ground and he succeeded. His particular achievement was the production of the Labrador/golden retriever crosses. "And he knew what was right for dogs. Despite opposition from some quarters, he knew that the best thing for puppies was to go off and get socialised at six weeks. He was ahead of his time." Derek initiated artificial insemination as a possible means to produce great guide dogs in the future and maintain the strain of outstanding stud dogs. This has led to today's stockpile of frozen semen from UK and overseas dogs which may become even more important in the future. "It's like an insurance policy," says Neil. "If some new disease were to come along and make dogs infertile then this could keep us going." Current breeding centre manager Matthew Bottomley has now taken on Derek's mantle. He says: "When I show tours round the centre I am always mindful of the respect and debt of gratitude that we owe to Derek Freeman. I only knew him for a short time and I am sad I didn't know him for longer. He had great vision and Guide Dogs is still benefiting from his legacy." The next big step is a new, state-ofthe-art breeding centre at Tollgate which is still in the planning stages. "It will be of great benefit to the breeding stock, providing a more stimulating and rewarding environment," says Matthew. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright (c) Forward Magazine Souvenir 2006... 2006 YY060902 #4 IT'S A TRAINER'S LIFE The training of guide dogs and of those who will own them is central to everything Guide Dogs does. The high standards demanded in training are not just for show - lives depend on them. Yet, while many of the methods of training have remained much the same, the life of a trainer has changed in all sorts of ways. "We all lived in at Edmondscote Manor [ the training centre at Leamington Spa]," recalls Maurice Hall, who joined Guide Dogs as an apprentice trainer in 19 9. "There were two trainers to a room and you weren't allowed to live out until you got married. You had to get written permission to get married and if you both worked for the Association, one of you had to leave!" Nowadays, of course, there are no such strictures and the Association has employed several married couples in recent years. But then, apprentices are no longer required to live in at centres either. "Men had to be in their rooms by 10 o'clock at night," says Maurice. "I remember more than once missing the last bus and having to run back and climb in through a window!" Like many of the trainers in those days, Maurice had just finished his National Service and so didn't find the regime at Edmondscote too restrictive. "You did everything by the book and it was all checked very regularly. It was a bit like being in the military, but that didn't matter as many of us had been in the forces, so we were used to it. It was all done kindly but firmly and it actually worked out quite well." Sir Paul Holden joined Guide Dogs in 19 , having seen the dogs of The Seeing Eye while training with the Royal Air Force in Texas. "There were four trainers at that time," he recalls, "George Shepherd, Betty Bridge, John Weeks and myself. We would each have eight dogs in training and when the best six were ready, would take them 'on class' with their new owners. The other two less-advanced dogs would be handed on to the next trainer to continue with." George Cram, from Stenhousemuir, started at Guide Dogs in 19 and stayed until his retirement ten years ago. "Back then," he recalls, "there weren't many of us on the training staff, so of course we did everything. We picked the dogs up, trained them and then trained the clients to work with them." Today, these duties are divided between the Guide Dog Trainers, and the Guide Dog Mobility Instructors, who oversee the completion of the dogs' training and teach dogs and owners to work together. Yet in the early days trainers didn't just train, as Maurice explains. "The hours were long. We had to get up early and do kennel work, serve breakfast to the students, then we'd be out training until five; then at six we'd serve the students their evening meal. We did it for the love of the job. It was a lovely atmosphere to work in." Things have changed for the trainers, and Maurice believes that the same can also be said for the dogs. "I think it's a lot tougher for the dogs now," he says. "It was a gentler world back then. Nowadays there's more noise, more people on the streets and the traffic is much heavier. Modern guide dogs have to cope with much more than they had to back then." According to George, the greatest difference between then and now is in the quality of the dogs. "We used to accept dogs from anywhere," he says, "and some of them were a real challenge, but the breeding programme has made a big difference; the dogs are much more suited to the job now." Sir Paul agrees: "I do envy the trainers today for the current standard of dogs that come through. The breeding and puppy walking programmes are marvellous and must make the trainer's life much simpler." Another area which has seen huge change is staff training. "That has come on in leaps and bounds," says George. "When I started, you'd just watch the other staff for the first few weeks, whereas now, the apprentices learn a lot of what they need to in the classroom before they go out." In fact, the modern apprenticeship combines 'on the job' training with the Diploma of Higher Education in Canine Assistance Studies. Undeniably, the life of a trainer has changed in many ways over the last 7 years, yet the spirit remains very much the same. As an apprentice Guide Dog Mobility Instructor, Caroline Boyle is heir to the professional legacy of Sir Paul, George and Maurice. She says: "Job satisfaction is very important to us. Knowing that what we're doing contributes to something so worthwhile is what gets us up and into work every morning." ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright (c) Forward Magazine Souvenir 2006... 2006 YY060902 #5 A GIRL'S BEST FRIEND! In 19 1, getting out and about was a very different experience from today. Trolley buses had just hit London, few people had private cars and air travel for the masses was merely a dream. But a new means of mobility for visuallyimpaired people was about to take off in the shape of guide dogs. Some 7 years on, and although much has changed, the relationship between a guide dog and their owner remains the same. Guide dog owner Jennie Lea, now 2, recalls working with the organisation's first Director of Training, Captain Nikolai Liakhoff, in 19 0 when she was just 2 . Jennie remembers the captain as a kind and gentle man who never raised his voice, and was always on hand to help with advice over the years. "He said the most important things were to have a voice and a pair of hands that your dog has confidence in - then you can do anything with your dog. I believe that's true. If ever I had a problem or a query I could always ring him up and he would give me advice. In those days, guide dog owners didn't have after-care visits, so those who lived near each other would keep in close contact for extra support." Jennie, who lives in Preston, lost her sight in an accident at the age of five but had managed to cope with the help of her parents. Encouraged by the Captain, she became a telephonist and her first dog Prince was invaluable in getting her to and from work. After he died, a distraught Jennie thought she could not bear to lose another dog and managed without - for all of three weeks. "I realised how awful it was travelling on my own without a dog," says Jennie. "Once you have had a guide dog you struggle without one." She went on to have six more guide dogs - Lassie (whom Captain Liakhoff had rescued from an abandoned house), Bun (who was by her side as she coped with the loss of both parents), Wallace, Gregg, William and Aran, her current dog. "Most of my guide dogs have been male. If people ask why I have never married I tell them that I prefer my males to have four legs and a fur coat!" says Jennie. "I couldn't have wished for better dogs and I count my blessings every day." Aran's life in Preston is a world away from that of Alfie, guide dog to 20-year-old language student Allana Grant, from Airdrie, Scotland. Allana, who goes to Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, sets off with Alfie this autumn for five months at university in Brussels then a further five in Austria. She says: "It doesn't bear thinking about, having to get to know new campuses, new accommodation and new public transport systems without Alfie. We will be able to get out and about straight away and take full advantage of both cities. "It'll be good to have a friend with me because he's so much more than a working dog - to have him by my side fills me with confidence. We will help each other out if we get homesick, because I think Alfie will miss my family as much as I will." Allana had applied to have a guide dog before she started at university. "I couldn't wait to meet Alfie," she says. "When the big day arrived, I was overawed. It only hit me then how much of a responsibility, as well as a privilege, being a guide dog owner is." Since that day in April 200 , Allana's world has opened up and she and the three-year-old golden retriever are inseparable. "Before I got Alfie I was a long cane user, and had to learn routes according to landmarks," says Allana. "What a difference Alfie made! I was getting places twice as fast as when I used my cane, because he was doing the thinking for me and guiding me round obstacles which I wasn't even aware were there." And he is by Allana's side, naturally, for her weekly 0-mile round trip by bus and two trains to be a presenter on a hospital radio station near her home town. She does everything herself to get the show on air, and this was featured on Blue Peter earlier this year. Alanna, who is currently single, adds: "You could say I'm looking for love, but I've always got Alfie. He's the only one I know I can rely on!" ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright (c) Forward Magazine Souvenir 2006... 2006 YY060902 #6 GROOMED FOR SUCCESS! For people of a certain age, Guide Dogs and Blue Peter belong in the same breath. Their relationship has spanned over forty years and generations of Britons owe all they know about guide dogs to the BBC TV programme they watched every week after school. It all began in 19 , when Blue Peter launched an appeal to collect silver foil and milk bottle tops in aid of the charity. By combining children's television with fundraising, the programme was breaking new ground - and its young viewers responded accordingly. Seven-and-a-half tonnes of foil were sent in - enough to pay for two guide dog puppies, Cindy and Honey, who were both later successful guide dogs. Ten years later, the 'Buttons, Buckles and Badges Appeal' raised enough money to fund an incubator for the puppy breeding centre at Tollgate, as well as new kennel facilities at Leamington Spa, Exeter, Forfar and Bolton. Viewers also funded 11 puppies through this appeal and guide dog Buttons was given to the programme. Then in 197 came a truly iconic moment, when presenter Simon Groom joined the programme - along with a small yellow puppy called Goldie. "The previous year, I'd gone back home to the tiny Derbyshire hamlet of Dethick to visit my parents," remembers Simon, "and found that the place had been taken over by a film crew. I watched the filming spellbound, and by the time I left to go back to London, I knew that television was a world I wanted to be involved with." A few weeks and a couple of fortunate coincidences later, Simon was called for interview by Blue Peter's legendary editor, Biddy Baxter. "One of the first questions I was asked was 'Do you like dogs?'", recalls Simon. "Fortunately, having grown up around dogs on the farm, I could say yes. If I'd said no, I don't think I'd ever have got the job!" Despite the rest of the interview going badly - "I kept looking into the wrong camera!" - Simon got the job and within a few days was on his first assignment: to collect the puppy whose fortunes he'd share with Blue Peter's viewers for the next eight years. "I just felt this huge responsibility," says Simon. "After all, she was 'The Nation's Dog'". Goldie, as viewers were to name her, had been specially chosen by Derek Freeman, then Guide Dogs' head of breeding. Goldie learned quickly and so made Simon's responsibility that much easier to bear - although she did have an 'accident' in the BBC foyer immediately prior to a visit from the Queen! For the next eight years, they were one of the nation's most high-profile double acts: wherever Simon went, Goldie went too. She put up with long working days at the studio and accompanied Simon on all his assignments - even to noisy factories. When they made an appearance in public, they were often mobbed by crowds of children, all wanting to stroke Britain's most famous canine. Yet Goldie took it all in her stride. "I'm full of admiration for her and the way she coped with everything," says Simon, "and it all goes back to the expertise of Derek Freeman, who chose such a fantastic dog for the show." Viewers also followed Goldie's training and the birth of her puppies in 19 1 and 19 . One of her pups, Bonnie, became a Blue Peter dog in 19 , when Goldie retired, and appeared in more than 1,1 0 shows over 1 years with 1 presenters. Nowadays, Simon spends most of his time running his own TV production company, but still looks back fondly on his years as one of the country's most recognisable children's TV presenters. "I remember that time with great affection and part of that comes from having had Goldie," he says. "The dogs I grew up with as a child were all working dogs, so I didn't view them as pets. But by the time I left Blue Peter, Goldie was quite definitely my dog. I know it's a cliche, but she really was a faithful friend." Over four decades, generations of Blue Peter viewers, presenters and dogs have made an incalculable contribution to the work of Guide Dogs. It's been an extraordinary partnership, and in 200 , following a collaboration on a number of successful Blue Peter Bark in the Park events, one that's still going strong. Here's to the future - watch this space! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright (c) Forward Magazine Souvenir 2006... 2006 YY060902 #7 VOLUNTEERING - MAKING A DIFFERENCE THROUGH THE YEARS Volunteers have always worked for Guide Dogs - and Guide Dogs has always worked because of its volunteers. As Guide Dogs' Head of Volunteering, Judy Taylor, says: "We've always relied on volunteers. We couldn't function without them!" With over 10,000 people giving up their free time to help out, more volunteers than ever now contribute to the work of Guide Dogs, and the Association is responding by increasing the range of roles available to them. More boarders, drivers and liaison officers, for example, are needed to join the ranks of the puppy walkers, breeding stock holders, speakers and fundraisers who keep Guide Dogs running. "Volunteering has changed," says Judy, "and it will keep on changing to adapt to the new demands that are placed upon it. Nowadays, for example, there is an increasing number of people who have chosen to retire early, and want to get involved in a meaningful way with their local communities. On the other hand, there are also more organisations out there bidding for that spare time, so it's important we value our volunteers - and let them know how much we appreciate them!" For those who fear that people aren't as selfless as they used to be, Judy has some good news. "We've got a very community-spirited group of people coming out of education, which is great," she says. "It's true that they tend to volunteer partly because they need to build up their CVs, but a lot also want to give something to the community. At Guide Dogs' recent AGM in Leeds, for example, we had absolutely no problem recruiting twenty local sixth-formers to act as sighted guides to visuallyimpaired people. It's important we provide appropriate volunteering opportunities to young people, which appeal to them, so they want to carry on engaging with us in their adult life. I think the future of volunteering is very exciting." Whether volunteers are veterans or novices, the Volunteering Department is committed to providing each one with access to the best advice, resources and guidance available. "We need to look after our volunteers," says Judy, "after all, we're totally dependent on their generosity." Betty and Alison Brown, puppy walkers What Roxburghshire in Scotland lacks in quantity of volunteers, it makes up for in quality. Sisters Betty and Alison Brown are the only puppy walkers in their area, but between them have walked over 0 pups! Given that each pup spends it first 12 months in the puppy walker's home learning basic commands and being socialised in many different environments, that really is an amazing achievement. Betty, who chaired the Roxburghshire Branch for 20 years, started puppy walking in 19 7. Alison started three years later, and currently doubles up as trading secretary for her local branch. They both regularly go to events such as the Border Union Show, to raise funds for Guide Dogs. Unfortunately, Betty had to take a rest of 1 months when she broke both hips, but she now has a young Labrador/ retriever cross called Sykes: "Eric or Bill - I don't know which yet!" Alison, though, has never gone more than a fortnight between pups and is just about to take delivery of her forty-first pup, Zimba. "Well, if I don't have a puppy, I've got to talk to Betty!" she jokes. A few things have changed over the years that Betty and Alison have been walking pups. "There were no Puppy Walking Supervisors when we started," says Betty, "and the traffic's much heavier nowadays. We live in quite a touristy area, so we really notice that." Some things don't change, though. Says Betty: "You still get the good pups and the cheeky pups. I remember them all - especially the naughty ones! They're all different, and it can be difficult to say goodbye." And that's another thing that hasn't changed: puppy walkers still have to give the pups back after a year. "That's the only downside," says Alison. "It can be difficult, but you know they're going on to do a very important job." So, what spurs them on to take the next pup? "It's an interesting job," says Betty, "especially when you hear back from the guide dog owners. A Christmas card or a letter means a lot. It's very satisfying." So, no thoughts of retirement just yet, then? "I suppose age will catch up with us eventually," says Betty, "but we'll carry on for as long as Guide Dogs is willing to give us a pup!" Horace Facer, volunteer boarder and driver Horace was working as an electrician at Edmondscote Manor in 19 0 when Captain Liakhoff's daughter first persuaded him to volunteer as a puppy walker. He did it for a year before stopping due to work commitments. He started volunteering again four years ago, mainly as a driver and temporary boarder. This means he looks after dogs whose owners are away from home - usually abroad. How many dogs has he boarded so far? He laughs: "Too many to remember!" Horace also drives dogs and owners across the Midlands, and has even made equipment, such as barriers and obstacles, for use in training the dogs. Having worked with the Association in the 19 0s and the present, Horace is well placed to appreciate the changes it has gone through. "The most obvious difference is that there weren't as many people involved in those days," he says. "There weren't the means to let people know what it was all about, so fundraising was extremely difficult. These days there's much better use of media - Guide Dogs has grown a huge amount." Horace also sees a difference in the degree of access and mobility that guide dog owners enjoy. "Things are vastly different now. They can go on trains, to supermarkets and shopping centres - even abroad on the Eurostar! There didn't use to be any of that." So, at the age of 7 , what makes him remain so active? "You've got to!" he says. "I couldn't sit and do nothing - it'd drive me up the pole. I'd be like a caged lion! I shan't retire from it - not unless I'm too ill to do it. I love it!" Bill and Marilyn Bosworth, stud dog holders Bill and Marilyn have been volunteering for 22 years. They started puppy walking when Bill came out of the Army and when their third pup was chosen as a stud dog, they agreed to keep him. Since then, they've had two more studs and these three dogs have sired 7 litters - that's puppies! Over the years, the couple has seen quite a few changes at Guide Dogs. "It's bigger than it used to be," he says, "and I think the training and veterinary care have improved, too." Ultimately, says Bill, stud dog holders devote twenty four hours a day to volunteering, since the dog becomes one of the family. But, he says, "I would recommend it. It's a really nice thing to do. You get a lot of satisfaction out of it, plus you have a nice animal, who's well trained and a joy to have around. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright (c) Forward Magazine Souvenir 2006... 2006 YY060902 #8 CELEBRATING 75 YEARS OF FUNDRAISING What better way to celebrate 7 years of fabulous fundraising than by bringing together tales from Forward, the first edition of which came out in May 19 . That edition includes an interview with a Miss Doris Archer, a successful fundraiser of her day: We hope you enjoy reading these fundraising highlights - quoted as they appeared at the time - and the accompanying photos. They provide a fascinating commentary on the history of Guide Dogs against the changing backdrop of our country over the last century. "I would say, in encouragement to others, that once you have made a start with collecting, it is surprising how others are moved to help you. You must never underestimate the value of assistance. I could not have done so much but for the willing help of my family and friends." Miss Archer's comments ring as true now as they did years ago. We may now raise funds through collaboration with business, individual giving schemes such as Sponsor a Puppy, lotteries and raffles, challenge events, legacies and tribute funds, as well, of course, as our stalwart branch supporters but all these would be nothing without the same dedication and enthusiasm of individuals. The 1940s Forward June 1947 Mr J W Jones and Beauty receive the cup awarded by the Alsatian League to Guide Dogs for services to the blind. Mr Jones estimates that he has collected over UKP2,000 with Beauty's help. The 1950s The 1960s Forward 1958 An aluminium foil collection by the staff of Messrs Kodak Ltd - one of the many firms collecting silver paper for the Association. Forward 1959 King of the Castle! Christopher Burns on top of the eighteen sacks of milk bottle tops he has collected for our Keswick Branch. His total already exceeds 7 sacks full - all washed and sorted. Forward 1961 Who wears the trousers here? This fine partnership is a most attractive example of the varied support we receive. Rudi, who really likes to be called "Elcla't de Trudace", is owned by Mr F Young. The dog's sturdy frame has borne a great weight of goodwill and he has collected in his pouches well over UKP 00. Forward 1966 Beauty and a dog. Miss World 19 visits a Guide Dog Christmas Fair at Chipping Norton and is seen with Mr Harriss, guide dog Honey, and Sir Joseph Napier. Miss Ann Sidney congratulated the committee on raising over UKP ,000. The 1970s The 1980s The 1990s The Noughties Out and About 1972 After raising over UKP 00 last August in a sponsored bath tub race, Cheltenham firemen tackled a sponsored ride on a ft long bicycle made for 22 - "Daisy". The marathon ride was a wonderful effort and financially successful. Out and About July 1974 When Eric Morecambe went to the Aboyne Lodge Infants School to help the school campaign for a guide dog, he met Mrs White's guide dog Lady. In a light-hearted mood, Eric is shown helping Lady see things more clearly. Forward June 1980 Roy Castle slips guide dog Ronda a pint at the Waggon and Horses with guide dog owner Lorna Smith. Lorna works at the training centre and had called to receive a cheque for the UKP 2 collected by customers in just one week. Forward March 1987 At the beginning of February Andrex launched their second promotion in aid of Guide Dogs. Henry Cooper, who is leading the Andrex Appeal, is asking consumers to buy an Andrex puppy for UKP2.99. The target is to raise UKP200,000. Forward September 1991 During the filming of the seventh series of Minder, each week the cast and crew organised a raffle, the proceeds going to sponsoring a guide dog. On the last day of filming, star of the series George Cole presented a cheque for UKP1,000 to John Bailey, with guide dog Elgar. Forward March 1993 Chris Southern, dressed in a fairy costume, complete with wig and wand, spent 2 hours at the top of a 0 feet tree in aid of Guide Dogs. There was a frost that night so hot drinks were sent up. Then it started to rain so an umbrella was passed to him and then it got very windy but Chris stayed put, managing to raise over UKP1,000. Forward Winter 2002 At the Kent Country Fayre New Romney Branch raised UKP7 thanks to David Alderton and his traction engine. Photo courtesy of Kent Messenger Group. Forward Summer 2006 For the second time in 12 months, Mike Griffiths, General Manager of Morrisons, Warrington, has raised over UKP , 00 for Guide Dogs, this time on a Nepal Trek. Mike was inspired by last year's Guide Dog of the Year, Vaughn and his owner, Susan Jones, who shop at Morrisons. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright (c) Forward Magazine Souvenir 2006... 2006 YY060902 #9 CHANGING LIVES The last 7 years have seen remarkable changes in how blind and partially-sighted people can expect to live; guide dogs are just one of the developments that have transformed lives. Peter White, presenter of Radio 's In Touch programme, talked to Forward about some of the others - as well as sounding a note of caution. "The headline change, of course, is in technology," says Peter. "Advances in that area over the last 1 to 20 years - or more particularly in the last five to ten years - have been staggering. "Technology is helping people to hold down some very responsible jobs and to do them very well in many instances. Whatever you may think of David Blunkett, the fact is that he's very high-profile; blind people in general are much more visible nowadays than they used to be." This, of course, is in part due to better education with regard to disability; people tend to be more aware than they used to be about equality of opportunities. Television - another kind of technology - has almost certainly played a role in this, but, says Peter, it comes "partly from the effect of integration in schools and also from the strong weight of opinion. This is the positive aspect of political correctness. We can tie ourselves in linguistic knots trying not to offend people, but the basic premise behind political correctness is A Good Thing. It's not really about language and we shouldn't jump down people's throats if they use the 'wrong word' - that does more harm than good. It's actually about attitudes and attitudes towards disability in general have changed for the better." Peter also implies that things could continue to improve in this area: "Young people lead the way in this respect. They're much more likely nowadays to see you might need help, ask you if you do, lend a hand if it's needed and then leave you in peace!" Having said this, Peter is also keen to stress that not all changes have been for the good. "For people like me, who have always been blind and who have good jobs, things have got better," he says, "but for many others, that's often not the case. For example, the level of care, help and rehabilitation for newly blind people hasn't got any better and may have actually got worse." "For example, we've lost specialisation in care for people who are newly blind. A lot of people are in effect left hanging when they become blind. The move away from specialisation damaged blind people. At risk of sounding like a grumpy old man, I really mourn the loss of the old home teachers. They were essentially specialist social workers for the blind and operated into the late 0s and early 70s. Rehabilitation like this shouldn't be just an option - it's crucial. It should be done as a matter of course." This is something that Guide Dogs also feels strongly about. The Association has been offering rehabilitation training for 20 years, yet this has not been complemented by the same degree of commitment from other quarters - a situation that Guide Dogs' Rethink Rehab campaign aims to address. "We can do so many things these days," says Peter, "but they all take resources - they all need money - so we have to work out where our priorities lie. It's very easy to put the money into technology - it's solid, you can see it, you know it's there - but sometimes what people really need is someone to talk to or to take them shopping or to teach them how to make a cup of tea. That's one of the things I like about guide dogs: the principle is sound. It's a practical solution to the problem of mobility. It's not for everyone - I'm not a guide dog owner myself - but it's great for those who have one." On balance, Peter is cautiously optimistic about the future for blind and partially-sighted people. "There's a much wider range of opportunities open nowadays," he says, "and much greater acceptance of blind people. There's hardly a job or a sport where blind people aren't represented. A lot more blind people live independently now and that's great, too. There's also much greater recognition of the psychological aspects of losing your sight, which is incredibly important. In general, I think blind people's life chances have improved considerably. I just hope they continue to do so." ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright (c) Forward Magazine Souvenir 2006... 2006 YY060902 #10 CAMPAIGNING COMES OF AGE While Guide Dogs has always championed the rights of guide dog owners, it is only as we enter the 21st century, that the Association has begun to take a strategic approach to campaigning. Look carefully, however, and you will see the roots of those campaigns throughout the history of Guide Dogs. The world has changed enormously over the last 7 years, and with it the challenges for guide dog owners. You only have to go back to the time of the Second World War, to find that concerns were very different from those today. The May 19 edition of Forward reports: "The Minister of Home Security advised that although Local Authorities have been recommended to exclude domestic animals from public air raid shelters, this was not intended to apply to guide dogs. Should difficulties arise, he would be glad to be informed so that suitable measures could be taken." Jump forward several decades to the 1990s and street obstacles were the issue of the day, with Guide Dogs taking a proactive stance on making streets safer. The charity helped fund the National Federation of the Blind's 'Pavements Campaign', with accompanying poster (see below) and leaflets. Since then, Safer Streets has again become one of a number of flourishing Guide Dogs campaigns. It aims to increase awareness among the public, local authorities and companies of the problems that obstacles can cause for visually-impaired people. With town planners embracing the concept of 'shared space', Guide Dogs is also campaigning to ensure the needs of visually-impaired people are not overlooked where planners propose removing the delineation between areas traditionally used separately by vehicles and pedestrians. We also continue to campaign for guide dog owners to have better access to the goods and services to which they are entitled, through our Access for All campaign and increasing rights provided by the Disability Discrimination Act. The Spring 19 edition of Forward reports one of the first publicised cases of discrimination, that of Mr George Goodwin: "A blind hotel proprietor in Bristol, was barred from entering some catering establishments when accompanied by his guide dog. The matter was raised by Mr Goodwin at a meeting of the Bristol Hotel and Catering Association, which passed a recommendation that, despite any rules concerning dogs, all guide dogs should be treated as exceptions and permitted access to all public parts of hotels and restaurants." 20 years later and the first steps towards active involvement by Guide Dogs are reported in Forward. A 1977 issue states: "A Department of Social Services Circular sent to Local Authorities recommended that guide dogs should have access to restaurants, food shops and other food premises. The Association coincided this with representation to the national press and some 0 trade magazines. The result was extensive coverage and requests by shopkeepers and restaurateurs for plastic notices advertising access for guide dogs." Our campaign, in collaboration with other charities and organisations, to end the disruption and distress caused by fireworks has also gathered pace over recent years. In a 19 1 edition of Forward we reported that: "While the Association does what it can to ask people to 'have a care' for guide dogs when exploding fireworks and lighting bonfires, the safest way of ensuring that guide dogs are not frightened or hurt is to avoid being anywhere near them." The good news is that, thanks to our 'Regulate Fireworks Now' petition, changes in the laws regarding fireworks came into force in September 200 . Guide Dogs' core commitment is still to providing the guide dog service but, from humble beginnings, campaigning is also part of what defines Guide Dogs. Looking back over this year to Shades Day, Healthy Eyes, Rethink Rehab, Safer Streets, Access for All... it's been a busy twelve months. All these campaigns look set to achieve further results for guide dog owners and visually-impaired people in the years to come! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright (c) Forward Magazine Souvenir 2006... 2006 YY060902 #11 HEALTHY EYES spreading the message Finding ways to inform guide dog owners and the public about ways to prevent further or future sight loss is one of Guide Dogs' chief aims. We already carry out a range of initiatives as part of our Healthy Eyes programme, but we're committed to continuing to educate people in the years to come. Key to this commitment is finding ways to reach new and diverse audiences with our messages. There are certain eye conditions, for instance, that are more likely to put black and ethnic groups at risk - glaucoma being one. Glaucoma is the name for a group of eye conditions which often result in gradual loss of side field vision if left untreated, and can lead to blindness. It is the main cause of preventable blindness in older people, and Guide Dogs believes there is a lack of awareness of glaucoma among the public generally, and amongst black and Asian communities in particular. It was decided an investigation into ways to run a successful health campaign amongst a diverse audience was needed. Ian Murdoch and Helen Baker of the Institute of Ophthalmology at Moorfields Eye Hospital set up a research project, funded by Guide Dogs, to test the effect of a localised mass media campaign of glaucoma awareness messages. Three moving, funny and powerful adverts were produced by Cowboy Productions, with help from several top Bollywood stars, and local actors. These are due to be released in September 200 , alongside a radio, newspaper and poster campaign, in the Southall area of London. Southall has a multicultural, diverse urban population with a substantial number of residents of Asian origin. All the adverts have been translated into Hindi, one of the key languages spoken in the area. The level of awareness of glaucoma in the community after the campaign will then be measured by face to face interviews, and looking at the number of optometric visits and referrals from the area. This will be compared to awareness levels measured before the campaign. Guide Dogs and other organisations will be able to use this knowledge to develop more effective health campaigns and help impact on the potential causes of sight loss. We will be reporting on this research in due course, but for further information contact Guide Dogs' Healthy Eyes projects manager Tanvir Bush. Email tanvir.bush@guidedogs.org.uk or telephone 01223 303592 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright (c) Forward Magazine Souvenir 2006... 2006