FORWARD: Summer 2013
Guide Dogs presents the Summer 2013 issue of Forward, the magazine of Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.
Introduction
This document contains every part of the print version of Forward, and in the same order as that used in the print edition.
Forward
The official Guide Dogs magazine
Major the flying guide dog
The sky’s the limit for Mike and his dog
Guide Dogs Annual Awards
Who will you nominate?
Guide Dogs in the media
Our exciting new feature
Also inside:
· Gearing up for Guide Dogs Week 2013
· 70 years of Forward
· Name a Puppy: number 1,000
· Go Walkies - meet our new mascot
Contents
Regulars - Welcome
Regulars - The Team
Regulars - News
· Success at Crufts
· Road to Nowhere - shocking survey results
Regulars - View from the top
Looking ahead with Guide Dogs’ CEO
Features - Guide Dogs in the media
A round-up of our TV, radio and print coverage
Features - In for a Penny, in for a hound
Name a puppy - number 1,000
Features - Guide Dogs Annual Awards
Who will you nominate?
Regulars - A day in the life of…
Penny Davies, guide dog owner and planning inspector
Features - Go Walkies
Say hello to Clover, our new mascot
Features - My Guide is changing lives
Meet the people making the difference
Features - Seventy years of Forward
A journey back in time
Regulars - Your letters
Features - Major the flying guide dog
A transatlantic partnership
Regulars - What’s on?
Guide Dogs Week special
People and dogs - In good company
People and dogs - Thank you to our supporters
People and dogs - We’ll never forget
Regulars - Competitions
Regulars - Promotions
Regulars - Contact Details
People and dogs - New partnerships
Please recycle this magazine
Welcome
Editor’s welcome
This year marks Forward’s 70th birthday. It’s amazing to think that the magazine has been published, year in, year out, since 1943, telling readers about Guide Dogs and encouraging them to support our life-changing work. Why not read our retrospective - there are some great quotes and photos from past editions.
One thing that hasn’t changed over the last seventy years is the incredibly hard work of our volunteers, our supporters and, of course, our dogs. We’ll be celebrating them all at the Guide Dogs Annual Awards and we need your help - find out how to make your nominations.
As if that wasn’t enough excitement for one edition, you can also read about this year’s Guide Dogs Week which, with your help, we’re going to make bigger and better than ever.
We’re hoping to make a real splash in the media with both the Awards and Guide Dogs Week and, if our recent record is anything to go by, we should get some really good coverage - turn to our new feature on Guide Dogs in the media to find out what I mean!
I hope you enjoy this edition of Forward. Who knows, after our long winter you might even be able to read it in the sunshine.
Tracey Gurr
Editor
Tracey Gurr is pictured at the start of this section. Tracey has short brown hair and is wearing a black top underneath a black jacket, with a blue, white and green patterned scarf around her neck. Tracey is looking at the camera and smiling.
The Team
Editor: Tracey Gurr
Editorial Line: 0118 9838811
Contributors: Fiona MacAulay, Annabel Williams, James Kell, Lucy Llewelyn, Hannah Vickers, Hannah Robertson
Designed by: Guide Dogs
http://www.guidedogs.org.uk
Contributions: Send items to Forward at the Head Office address or e-mail . Unfortunately, due to the sheer volume of ideas we receive, we cannot acknowledge every item. We reserve the right to edit or refuse.
Forward is available in Braille, large print, audio CD and online as audio and text files.
It is also available as a PDF from our website and in a range of languages - for this and mailing enquiries call 0118 9838138.
Founding Editor: The late Captain Nikolai Liakhoff MBE FRZS
Registered Head Office: The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, Hillfields, Burghfield Common, Reading RG7 3YG
Tel: 0118 9835555
Fax: 0118 9835433
http://www.guidedogs.org.uk
E-mail:
(Copyright) 2010 Registered charity in England and Wales (209617) and in Scotland (SC038979)
On the front cover is a photograph of Mike Boardman and his guide dog, Major. Mike is wearing a dark grey t-shirt, with black trousers. Major is a black Labrador-retriever cross. Mike and Major have been photographed at Aeros Flying School. Mike is crouching down next to Major, smiling at the camera. Major is wearing his high visibility working harness.
The main caption on the cover reads: “Major the flying guide dog… The sky’s the limit for Mike and his dog.”
The Guide Dogs’ logo is pictured on the bottom right hand side of the page, the logo is a blue shield with the text “GUIDE DOGS” written in white, with a picture of a person walking a guide dog, also in white.
News
Buses put people with sight loss on a “road to nowhere”
Guide Dogs’ latest bus passenger survey reveals that a shocking 54 per cent of people who are blind or partially sighted have missed their bus stop because drivers have refused to agree to tell them when they reached their destination, an increase from last year’s results. Our “Road to Nowhere” Report illustrates people with sight loss are experiencing serious problems with the accessibility of buses; many are left feeling isolated as they then choose not to travel by bus. Installing audio visual announcements would greatly help passengers feel more confident going out and about on their own by bus. That’s why we’re asking the Government and local bus providers to create more “talking buses” across the UK. Find out how you can help our campaign by visiting http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/talkingbuses
Included here is a photograph of a Guide Dog owner and his guide dog travelling on a bus, the guide dog is sitting patiently at his owner’s feet. There are also other passengers on the bus, sitting in various seats.
Guide Dogs goes to school
Our new Guide Dogs @ School Puppy Resources pack is now available at http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/schools. It’s a great way to encourage primary school children to experience the world through someone else’s eyes and to find out how they can help our young pups become life-changing guide dogs.
Pictured here is a screen shot of the Guide Dogs’ website, the screen is the “Puppy resources” page.
…and to Wales
You can now find out everything about Guide Dogs in Wales on its own dedicated website pages. Visit Guide Dogs Cymru at http://www.guidedogs.org.uk/guidedogs-cymru/ or type “Cymru” into the Guide Dogs website search box.
Included here is a screen shot of the Guide Dogs’ website pages for Wales, the screen is the “Volunteering” page.
New ID book for guide dog owners
Guide dog owners, along with all other assistance dog owners, will receive a new document in the coming year to support their legal right to access goods and services when accompanied by their dog. Coloured yellow and about the size of a passport, the Assistance Dogs UK ID book features guidance and information on the rights of assistance dog owners. It aims to help service providers, such as airport staff and restaurant owners, when they are giving access to partnerships trained by recognised Assistance Dogs UK organisations.
Pictured here is a Guide Dog owner and his guide dog, sitting in a restaurant. The man is holding up his new yellow ID book. His guide dog is sitting patiently at his side.
National Breeding Centre - could you be a patron?
In the two years since we opened our National Breeding Centre we have already bred more than 2,600 puppies. These puppies will enable us to help even more people who are blind or partially sighted people to lead independent lives.
Guide Dogs is appealing for new patrons to donate an annual gift of £1,000 to help meet the centre’s £2.5 million annual running costs. Patrons receive regular progress reports and have the opportunity to visit the centre and meet puppies, as well as having their name engraved on the wall.
To find out more, please call 0118 9838350 or e-mail
Included here is a picture of a tiny yellow Labrador puppy, the puppy is looking up towards the camera.
Happy reunion in Cardiff
They say elephants never forget - and the same goes for guide dogs, according to one Cardiff puppy walker. Helen Jenkyn enjoyed a trip down memory lane with Leo, the pup she and her family helped shape into a working guide dog.
After puppy walking and training, Leo was partnered with Sue Taylor of Bridgend, who gives Helen regular updates on Leo.
Sue said: “I’m so grateful to Helen and her husband Roger. They’ve done a brilliant job with Leo and I can’t thank them enough.”
Helen and Roger were delighted when Sue brought Leo back to Cardiff to see them. “He hadn’t changed much,” said Helen. “He was excited and remembered everything. Leo’s the perfect dog for Sue and has given her back her independence.”
Pictured here is Helen Jenkyn and her family, with Guide Dog Leo. Leo is sitting patiently between Helen’s husband, Roger and their son.
Crufts success
Guide Dogs wowed Crufts this year, demonstrating our work to thousands of people in the main arena. We also helped visitors to the Guide Dogs stand get a better understanding of what it’s like to live with sight loss as they took a walk through our “sensory tunnel” which simulates the experience of being blind. One visitor, Bianca, 23, said: “My brother is partially sighted and this tunnel actually made me realise how difficult his life is and what he has to cope with”. Thanks to all the staff, volunteers, supporters - and, of course, dogs - who made Crufts such a success for us this year. You can check out a video of the Guide Dogs demonstrations on the video section of our YouTube page at http://www.youtube.com/guidedogs.uk
Included here is a photograph of Lucy, a yellow Labrador, wearing her purple volunteering coat and lying on the ground at Crufts. The caption reads: “Lucy, a guide dogs brood bitch, takes Crufts in her stride”.
A first for local justice
Accompanied by his guide dog, Wanda, Paul Millross has become the first visually impaired magistrate at the Sussex Courts and he says the support he has received to enable him to do the job has been “stunning”. Seeing justice done is important to Paul. “As a visually impaired person you come across a lot of injustice in your life,” he explains.
Awards galore!
New Year’s Honour for Margaret
Guide dog owner Margaret Cowie, from Glasgow, has been awarded the OBE for “charitable services to blind and sight impaired people.” She was nominated by her employer, Barclays, where she has worked for the past 24 years and is a well-known and respected activist and fundraiser. About receiving the award she said: “I really didn’t expect it but obviously I am delighted.”
Pictured here is Margaret and her sixth guide dog Sage, Margaret and Sage have been photographed at the award ceremony. Margaret is wearing a black skirt suit with a light blue blouse. Sage is a small yellow Labrador.
Puppy walker in award finals
Penny Parker, puppy walker and chair of the East and Mid Suffolk branch, was a finalist in the Charity Staff and Volunteer Awards earlier this year in the Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year category. The awards celebrate outstanding dedication and achievements made by charity staff and volunteers across the UK. Congratulations, Penny!
Included here is a photograph of puppy walker Penny Parker, Penny is wearing a yellow Guide Dogs’ t-shirt and is holding one of the many guide dog puppies she has walked.
Pride of Bath
Many congratulations to tireless Guide Dogs volunteers Norma and Derek Stent, who were voted Community Champions of the Year in the Pride of Bath Awards. Norma and Derek very generously donated the £150 prize money to Guide Dogs.
Visions of the Past
Three guide dog owners feature in “Visions of the Past”, a social history of sight loss in Hampshire which includes a book, an audio book, a film and an exhibition. Tom from Southampton, Supriya from Aldershot and Richard from Fareham share their fascinating and sometimes dramatic stories. For more information please visit http://www.opensight.org.uk
Pictured here is Tom with his guide dog Brunel & retired guide dog Lloyd. They are all sitting in the garden together.
A season ticket for two
Wigan Warriors rugby club have given lifelong supporter Andy Parkinson an extra seat with his season ticket to give guide dog Farley more room. They also invited Andy to the stadium so that he could familiarise himself with the ground and choose the most suitable seats. What service!
Included here is a photograph of Shaun Wane, Wigan Warriors coach, and Guide Dog owner Andy Parkinson with his guide dog Farley, sitting in the stadium. Andy is wearing his Wigan Warriors rugby shirt. Farley is a yellow Labrador cross retriever, who is sitting patiently at Andy’s feet.
Guide Dogs backs proposed law change on dangerous dogs
In April the Government announced plans to change the law to treat attacks on guide dogs more seriously, thanks in no small part to the hard work of our campaigners.
In another success for our dog attacks campaign, attacks on guide dogs and other assistance dogs will be explicitly covered by dangerous dogs legislation for the first time. Under plans announced in the draft Dangerous Dogs (Amendment) Bill, the owner, or person in charge, of a dog that attacks an assistance dog can be prosecuted.