Desperate Call For Drivers For Society For The Blind.
By Steve Grant, WMVC Press Officer, 6th July 2005
Derek, son of Warrington Male Voice Choir
Vice-President and past Secretary, Angus Thorburn, and a stalwart of Warrington
& Widnes Society for the Blind, has highlighted the desperate shortage of
volunteer drivers to ferry Society members to social and cultural events
throughout the North West.
Every year,
for the last 20 years, the Choir has given free and priority seating to the
Society’s members at all its Parr Hall Concerts. In the lead-up to “Last
Night of the Proms” on September 24th, the Choir investigated the
Society’s lack of “up-take” in recent times, and discovered that owing to
an insurance restriction, disallowing drivers over 70 years of age, and a
seeming reluctance of younger volunteers to come forward, the problem has even
wider consequences.
The
Society’s Dominoes Group’s regular competitions throughout the region,
Summer trips to Southport, and even the Annual Christmas Meal, have all fallen
foul of this ruling.
Although the
Society has offered to arrange taxis to Parr Hall Concerts, recent parking and
access alterations in Palmyra Square mean that blind concert-goers have to
negotiate, not only the crowds of other fans, but also miscellaneous street
furniture, whereas organised mini-bus transport complete with escort helpers
would ensure safe transition.
“We make
an urgent appeal for volunteer drivers (under 70 years of age) to come forward
and restore this vital lifeline of enjoyment to this section of our community”
said Choir Chairman, Barrie Johnson, this afternoon.
If you can
help the Society by volunteering to be a driver, please contact:
Derek
Thorburn: 01925 813806 or Society: 01925 632700.
