Veteran honoured by Darwen Blind Society (From Blackburn Citizen)

Veteran honoured by Darwen Blind Society

11:36am Tuesday 7th July 2009

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THE longest serving member of Darwen Blind Society has celebrated 40 years’ service with a party in her honour.

Kathleen Jebb, of Cambridge Gardens, Darwen, has been a member of the society since 1969, the year she was also appointed as a local magistrate.

During that time she has helped dozens of people in the community who are blind, or partially sighted.

The organisation helps people in numerous differ-ent ways, including arranging annual summer trips, Christmas dinners, and also distributing audio news-papers so members can keep up to date with current events.

Even after 40 years service, Mrs Jebb is still as motivated as ever to provide this vital service to the Darwen blind community.

She said: “I don’t know where the time has gone.

“People ask me ‘Why do you do it?’.

“Well, I like the work, I like the people and you can have a good laugh.”

Her fellow volunteers certainly value her contrib-ution and have shown their appreciation with a party in her honour held yester-day at the Central United Reformed Church, in Duckworth Street, Darwen.

Leah Clarkson, who also helps out at the blind society, said: “She’s a lovely lady.

“Anything you want to know about Darwen you go to Kathleen. She is always the first person to speak to.”

There are about 20 members of the society at the moment, down from 60 ten years ago.

And Mrs Jebb, a former Labour Party secretary for the Darwen South East ward, is always looking to encourage people to join.

She said: “If there are any partially-sighted and blind people they are welcome to come to the monthly meeting on the first Monday of every month at the Central United Reformed Church, in Duckworth Street.”

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