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Thursday, 2 March, 2017
1976: Press night for talking newspaper
20 May 1976
IT’S all systems go tonight for
the recording of the first edition
of a talking newspaper for blind
and partially sighted people in
the Newbury area.
The initial circulation of the
Kennet Cassette will be about
fifty and the first tapes should
arrive at homes throughout the
district on the Saturday
morning.
Production of the first tapes
comes after a series of trial runs,
with several blind and partially
sighted people having acted as
guinea pigs to advise on the
content.
One of those advisers is Mr Bob
Taylor of Cold Ash Hill, a man
whose sight became very
blurred after an illness several
years ago.
“I think the idea is a marvellous
one,” he said. “It has made a very
great difference to my life. The
most important thing is it has
given me some independence – I
don’t have to rely on my wife
reading the
NWN
to me every
week.”
Another great advantage is that
Mr Taylor is now able to take
part in discussions with friends
and workmates on local events,
where previously he tended to
feel out of touch.
Although the first edition of the
talking newspaper is going out
this week, more money is still
needed to ensure its success.
£1,400 has now been received
towards the appeal target of
£1,800 and it is essential that the
remainder is raised to ensure
that the circulation can grow
with the expected demand.
The cassette will include a wide
selection of each week’s local news
from the
NWN
plus a number of
feature items for the blind.
From left, Nigel Fleming, Peter Dann and John Parsons inspect the new recording equipment in 1995
Celebrating the 1,000th edition of Kennet Cassette in 1995 are, from left, Sue Campbell, Laura Pank, Iris Lloyd, Peter
Dann and Sara Bartlett. The four women were the volunteer editors at the time and Sue Campbell, Peter Dann and Iris
Lloyd are all still involved today
Left, Kennet Cassette volunteers
recording the 2000th edition in 2014
How the
Newbury Weekly News
reported the launch of Kennet
Cassette in May 1976
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