Service keeps farming community connected

A life-changing service that brings the latest farming news to those with sight impairment is being recognised, with the Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RSABI) thanking the dedicated East Kilbride volunteers behind it.

- ROBERT MITCHELL

A group of eight selfless individuals allocate time every week of the year to read the Scottish Farmer cover to cover in a brilliant initiative to ensure that anyone who has difficulty reading the publication can listen to it instead.

Leading the group is Alan Drummie, 87, who is responsible for allocating the various sections of The Scottish Farmer to be read and recorded so it can be enjoyed by those who can't read the paper, across the country.

Alan has been reading the Scottish Farmer for over 22 years and working alongside him are fellow East Kilbride and District Talking Newspapers volunteers Gerry Bayne (10 years), Valerie Baird (12 years), Anne Naylor (17 years), Elizabeth Harris (12 years), Dugald Baird (10 years) and Robert Hosie (eight years). Mary Ritchie (nee Strang) reads her section of the Scottish Farmer each week from her home in Manitoba, after she moved from Scotland many years ago.

And Alan is one of 9000 volunteers around the country who produce talking newspapers and magazines for listeners as part of a service delivered by over 300 talking news service providers. Most of these are local charitable organisations providing recordings for those who are blind and visually impaired.