Bangor Audiobook members create RNIB Talking Books legacy
Bangor Audiobook group are pleased to have now chosen the third RNIB Talking Book to add to the RNIB Library for users of the service across the UK and beyond to enjoy for decades to come. This follows a powerful fundraising campaign spearheaded by group leader Ken Carson, and volunteer sighted guide Pauline Canning, which raised a grand total of £4500.
Ken told us, “The audiobook group had been going for a while when Pauline, who I used to work with for many years in the civil service, said she would like to raise money for RNIB Talking Books after discovering just how brilliant the service was to so many of us.”
Pauline said: “I’m an avid reader myself and I just couldn’t imagine my life without reading if I lost my sight, so the idea grew from there. Ever since I became an RNIB volunteer and started supporting others alongside Ken, I’ve had an insight into what life can be like for someone with sight loss and just how inaccessible some places and everyday things can be. Until you see it first-hand, you don’t appreciate some of the barriers. I just wanted to do something to help. There was brilliant support from those in the local community, including our local Tesco and Asda. We couldn’t believe it.”
Ken continued, “Unfortunately not all publishers choose to produce their books in an audio format so people who don’t read standard print can also enjoy them. Thankfully RNIB has a bunch of talented volunteer readers and studio, and is continually working with publishers to be able to produce the now tens of thousands of books available for free from the RNIB Library.
Celebrating a Generous Donation: The AVA Winebar & Cocktail Lounge presents a £4500 check to RNIB, with a special book by David Baldacci
The books we chose are from authors we all collectively love- crime, thrillers and true stories: Hannah Dennison’s ‘A Vicky Hill Exclusive!’; David Baldacci’s ‘Mercy’, and Angela Bourke’s ‘The burning of Bridget Cleary, a true story.’ Our audiobook members can’t wait to read them themselves and we hope others get just as much enjoyment out of them.”
Robert Shilliday, RNIB NI Director said, “We’re so thankful to Ken, Pauline and their team for helping contribute to our Talking Books library and glad the group were able to choose books particularly personal to them. It’s fantastic to know people across the UK and beyond will be hearing that these three books have been dedicated by Bangor Audiobook group for years to come, and I’d particularly like to thank Ken for his dedication in volunteering, both with the group and in his wider capacity as a peer support volunteer. His impact on the lives of others is immeasurable.”
RNIB’s Talking Books are free and easy to order – over the phone, by email or download online. They also come in a choice of formats (CD, USB and download) so listeners can use a reading device that they are familiar with. Call the RNIB Helpline to get started on 0303 123 9999 or email [email protected].
There's lots of ways to fundraise to support blind and partially sighted people of all ages through RNIB. Visit RNIB fundraising to find out more.
Bangor Audiobook founding member Davy’s story
Davy Daniel, 67, was never a ‘reader’ before he lost his sight due to diabetic retinopathy 12 years ago, at age 55. It wasn’t until he got in touch with RNIB and did a course on how to use the iPad that he tried RNIB’s Talking Books service and says that it changed his life.
Davy said, “I’d always been into car magazines. The trainer Neil convinced me to try downloading a car magazine and using magnification to read it. It was about three sentences to a page but I persevered and was able to read the magazines again. I’d never heard of audiobooks, but the trainer recommended a few books he liked, particularly Lee Child’s and the Jack Reacher series, and I was hooked. It would only take me 2 days to get through a book, I’d be up til 2am reading. I’m reading all the time now - I have a portable player I take with me travelling, to appointments, out in the garden, and even have a player to listen to them while in the bath!”
“I told Ken about how good the books were on the train one day on our way to a walking group with RNIB that I’d also joined, and spoke to a few of the other people and we thought we should get a group together and make sure other people know about these.
The group has now been going for seven years, with people from their 30s to their 80s, even travelling from Comber or Moira, or we’ve some older members who just get the monthly emails with our book suggestions and it keeps them in the loop. It’s an opportunity to chat and enjoy some time together, and some good food as we meet in the Ava restaurant, whose staff are amazing.”
Bangor audiobook member Gill Jackson’s story
“I pretty much lost my sight overnight. I attended SNIB’s Living Well With Sight Loss course which was brilliant. I’d never met another blind person before. A bit later I was introduced to Ken
Then freakily we met again soon after when we were both at the Snow Patrol concert in Ward Park and we had a great laugh, even discovering the benefits of having a cane when it came to queueing times for drinks! “
“We got chatting and Ken suggested the audiobook club and I agreed to come along and try it out. I was familiar with audio books as light was always an issue for me, so I would’ve had the likes of Roald Dahl books on CD for the kids.
“Since losing my sight to the degree it is now, the RNIB Talking Books have been brilliant. The audiobooks help to really put you into that other world you’re reading about, away from any stresses. They’re lifechanging. I’d choose books over TV now. You can relax and listen to an audiobook, where sometimes it’s hard focusing on the TV, especially if there’s no audio description to figure out what’s going on.
And getting what you like from the RNIB Helpline is so easy, the Helpline staff are all brilliant. I love a bit of Ruth Jones or Peter James and read all the time now.
“More and more audiobooks are ready the same day as print book releases which is fantastic as then it really feels like publishers are treating us equally, whereas before it might’ve been a year or two later.
“The book group really is like a family. Everyone’s so different, their experiences of life so different, but we all take care of each other -suggesting meeting up when travelling somewhere by public transport, and other members encouraged me to try the long cane and get more independent. It’s not just a book group, it’s a gateway to so much more.”
“I was really inspired by the people in the group when I first joined, how they got out and about themselves. I wasn’t at that stage yet. But now I’m confident enough to travel different places, to the group from where I live in Moira. I’m generally a lot more active. I completed the virtual London Marathon in October 2020, then the real thing once we could in 2021 with a guide runner, and am so proud of myself for that. Not saying I’m going to do it in too much of a rush again, but I did it!”
