Guide Dogs for the Blind celebrates 80 years - and it all started in Wallasey
A bronze image of a dog sits proudly outside New Brighton’s Floral Pavilion Theatre – signifying Wallasey’s trailblazing work in the setting up of the world-renowned Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.
Last weekend, the new seafront theatre was the appropriate setting for celebrations to mark the 80th anniversary of Muriel Crooke and Rosamund Bond’s remarkable and far-sighted endeavours which laid the foundations for the guide dogs enterprise.
Amazingly they organised the training of the first four British guide dogs from a humble lock-up garage in the town.
To date the organisation has helped more than 29,000 blind people to achieve life-changing independence.
Scores of people from across Merseyside and beyond took part in a walk – with their dogs – from the site of a special plaque at The Cliff tower block, identifying Wallasey’s pioneering work with guide dogs, to the theatre.
Among those attending the celebrations were Joyce Dudley, from Wrexham, now in here 90s, who was one of the earliest people to benefit from the skill of renowned trainer Captain Liakhoff. Also there was Paralympic hopeful Laura Turnham from Liverpool who will ride tandem in next year’s London games.