Geoff Garnett

Geoff, a retired civil servant has been Secretary of BlindVoice UK since its formation in 1997, and is responsible for building the strong position BlindVoice UK is in today.

Val Hydes

Val has been registered blind since 1990. Val is currently secretary for the local fundraising branch and also enjoys public speaking for Guide Dogs. Val has also taken on a new role of chief reporter within BlindVoice UK.

Linda Oliver

At the start of her career she worked full time as a rehabilitation officer working with blind and visually impaired people. Linda has been teaching people to read and write Braille for many years and has won the highest praise from her students.

Chris Parkington

A teacher and avid crafter before losing her sight, Chris has fought to rebuild her skills, and is now putting them to use in making cards for sale for BlindVoice UK funds. Chris has links to many people with sight problems through her use of the Internet.

When Anne lost her sight she found she couldn't find any literature for her family to read about blindness, so she set about designing an information leaflet, this soon became a series.

James Keen

James has been an active participant for over 5 years. He is an enthusiastic fund-raiser for various charities and has twice completed the Great North Run and abseiled down the front of North Tees Hospital

Jean Ward

Jean Ward started attending BlindVoice UK meetings when her son Phillip lost his sight 8 years ago. Jean is learning to read and write Braille on the Braille for the Sighted course taught by Linda Oliver.

Marilyn Clenaghan

My name is Marilyn Clenaghan and I have the lucky distinction of being an identical twin. Yvonne and I were born prematurely over 23 and 24 October making Yvonne Libran and myself Scorpion. Both of us were given too much oxygen in an incubator thus causing our blindness.