DUMBARTON & VALE OF LEVEN REPORTER, Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Talking newspaper is still going strong after 22 years

Hear all about it! By Ruth McClean

A FORMER butcher – who lost his sight in a car accident at the age of 40 – is helping deliver all the local news to blind and partially sighted people across Dumbarton and the Vale by recording editions of the Reporter.
Bobby Simpson MBE, 75, started up the talking newspaper, Rockvale Rebound in 1981, after losing his sight in 1979.
Rockvale Rebound is a free tape service specifically designed for visually impaired or blind residents, through which Bobby and around 37 other volunteers record newspapers, including the Reporter, and also a regular magazine.
It allows those who sign up to the scheme to hear their local news, and keep up to date with events in the area.
Bobby began finding out what would be required to set up the facility in 1980, and was able to get the help of local journalists and staff from the community education centre.
A small band of willing volunteers had been formed by the April, 1981 with the first edition produced in May 28 that year and sent out to 43 people.
Bobby said: “This was the first of several digests of the local news and it was soon apparent changes would have to be made.
Within one year the frequency of the service had been increased to a fortnightly one, doubling the amount of news available to members.”
In 1985, a magazine-style tape was introduced to allow even more news to be recorded onto taped editions, and for a wider spectrum of information to be made available.
The service became weekly in 1991, and within a few months was upgraded to allow even more up to date coverage.
Based in West Bridgend, the volunteers and listeners meet three times a year for social functions.
Bobby continued: “The organisation is funded by grant-aided schemes as well as specially arranged local fundraising events. As well as helping to fund the service, the money is also put towards the social functions. Although membership is still going strong, it has depreciated somewhat from when the organisation was at its peak , now serving around 100 people rather than the 160.”
Tracy Liddle, one of the volunteers who has been recording with Rockvale Rebound for nearly 10 years, got involved after taking over from one of her friends, and has been part of the service ever since. She is asking for others who have a little time to spare, to share their dulcet tones for a couple of hours every six weeks, and join the group.
For more information or to sign up to the service, contact Bobby Simpson on 01389 762096 or email bobbyess1@talktalk.net.