PROVIDING THE JAM - A story of the visually impaired community of Worthing

The Authors Lela Tredwell is a prize-winning author whose words have appeared in books, anthologies, magazines, journals and online. She has a Master’s degree in Creative Writing and a degree in English with History. She was a winner of Word Factory’s Fables for a Modern World, first runner up in the Pinch Literary Awards and commended in the Orwell Society’s Dystopian Fiction Prize. Previously a lecturer and manager in education, she is currently working as an editor, writer and researcher. Her recent published writings have involved research into the inventions of the Great Exhibition, the disappearance of Einstein’s brain and sea monsters of the Carta Marina.

Chris Hare is the author of nine books on local and regional history as well as numerous pamphlets and magazine articles. He has a first degree in British Studies and a Master’s degree in Life History from the University of Sussex. Having previously worked as an adult education teacher and manager, he is currently the director of a heritage consultancy - History People UK Ltd - that manages community heritage projects across Sussex. His previous publications have included research into smugglers, folklore songs and Worthing during the Second World War.

Providing the Jam – A story of the visually impaired community of Worthing

Wood-chopper, barber and poultry farmer may seem surprising occupations for a visually impaired person but prepare to be inspired. This book charts the determination and fortitude of blind and partially sighted people, alongside their supporters. By focusing on one community on the South Coast of England it highlights the changing attitudes towards those with sight disabilities through the 20th Century. It is a story in which you will meet charming characters, kind friends and extraordinary people with wonderful instincts.

The organization that would become Sight Support Worthing started out in 1910. In this heroic journey discover how they fought struggle and strife to continue in their vital work of providing comfort to the visually impaired people of Worthing.

PROVIDING THE JAM

A story of the visually impaired community of Worthing

Lela Tredwell and Chris Hare

The West Sussex County Council were providing the bread for the blind people in Worthing but the Worthing Society for Befriending the Blind were providing the jam. This was one of the reasons why the Society had to carry on their work said the Rev. E W D Penfold (Chairman), at the annual general meeting held at the home for the blind on Thursday.

“Another reason why our work must go on,” continued Mr Penfold “is because we are able to bring into the lives of the blind that personal and sympathetic touch which county councils and town councils lack.

Worthing Gazette, 2nd September 1942, ‘Work For Worthing Blind Must Go On’

PROVIDING THE JAM A story of the visually impaired community of Worthing

Published by: Sight Support Worthing 48 Rowlands Road, Worthing BN11 3JT T: 01903 235782 E: info@sightsupportworthing.org.uk W: www.sightsupportworthing.org.uk First published: September 2018 Pictures courtesy of Margaret Ford, Philip Wood, Sight Support Worthing archive All newspaper cuttings reproduced in this book are courtesy of: © West Sussex County Council Library Service www.westsussexpast.org.uk Weald and Downland Living Museum www.wealddown.co.uk

©

Written by Lela Tredwell and Chris Hare Design & Production: Panda Creative Ltd, Worthing www.pandacreativeltd.co.uk

CONTENTS Introduction.............................................................................................................. 7 Chapter 1: Kind Friends.......................................................................................... 11 Chapter 2: Finding Their Way................................................................................. 21 Chapter 3: Milton House and Wartime Challenges................................................ 39 Chapter 4: The Way the Bread was Buttered.......................................................... 61 Chapter 5: Stockings and a Swan Song.................................................................. 77 Chapter 6: Holidays, Hyacinths and Homes........................................................... 95 Chapter 7: One Thousand Members..................................................................... 119 Chapter 8: Celebrations and Centenarians........................................................... 131 Acknowledgements................................................................................................ 151 References.............................................................................................................. 152 Index...................................................................................................................... 162

Introduction

O

n a summer’s day in 1910, a small group of people met at ‘Harveydale’, 36 Salisbury Road to agree to establish a society in Worthing ‘for befriending the blind.’ There were a number of clergymen present and middle class ladies, who believed they had a duty to help the blind and partially sighted in their community. Amongst the founders of the society were Rev James Atkinson, Miss Hobson, Miss Slaughter and Miss Chepmell. By 1912 the Rev. Edward Penfold, vicar of Durrington, had taken over as chairman and Dr. Morton Palmer, elected president. These two men would remain in post for many decades, giving freely of their time. In the early days there were no paid officials and all officers of the Society acted in a voluntary capacity.

The needs of the visually impaired have changed a great deal since 1910 in both the ways they have been perceived and the support which has been offered.

For over one hundred years the Worthing-based charity has worked tirelessly to provide comforts and often a lifeline to people with sight impairment. Starting out as Worthing Society for Befriending the Blind, the organisation changed its name in 1948 to Worthing Society for the Blind, and then again in 2018 to Sight Support Worthing. For ease ‘the Society’ will also be used throughout this book to refer to the organisation that would become Sight Support Worthing.

This book charts the eventful history of the society from those pioneering days before the First World War to the present day. We have taken as our starting point the research undertaken in 2010 by Keith Humphreys, a former society trustee, who wrote a book based on the complete set of minute books that record every committee meeting since the society’s inception. For our book, we have drawn on information contained in the annual reports, local newspapers and the archive held in London by the RNIB (Royal National Institute for the Blind). We have also made extensive use of oral history interviews with those who worked with the blind –7–

Providing the Jam community from the 1950s onwards. These interviews in particular give a valuable insight into the changing attitudes towards blindness and sight impairment over the last sixty years.

Today Sight Support Worthing caters largely for an elderly and female clientele.

Back in the early days of the society, those given support were largely men of working age. The reader may be surprised to learn that as well as basket making, these men were also put to work chopping wood, an activity that continued until the 1960s.

Reverend Edward Penfold, an early chairman, used to say the Society was responsible for the personal comforts. They provided the jam, while government bodies supplied the bread. This book will introduce you to some outstanding personalities, who deserve to be remembered and celebrated. There was Mrs Margaret Edwards, one of the first home teachers for the blind in the 1920s who covered large areas of West Sussex on her bicycle, and Mrs Marjorie Cobby who was a mainstay of the Society over four decades. As honorary secretary, president and chairman she charmed those she came into contact with into “getting things done”.

The first headquarters for the Worthing Society for Befriending the Blind was in Rowlands Road within view of its current headquarters at no. 48. However, they also worked out of Milton House, for a period. By the 1990s, offices were located at the Richmond Road flatlets.

The Society has offered an increasingly varied programme of activities to its members. In the 1920s charabanc outings were being organised to take members to Slindon, Amberley and Arundel. By the 1960s, the Society was organizing week-long holidays to Weymouth, Shanklin, Bournemouth and other popular destinations.

A lot has changed in 108 years but the ethos remains the same: ensuring that blind and partially sighted people can enjoy a full and happy life. The testimony of members, collected as part of oral history interviews, along with notes from the Society’s archive, help illustrate the impact the Society has had.

–8–

Introduction QUOTES FROM MEMBERS... “…as for this Society it’s a lifeline because I come here most days. I love it here and everybody here is so kind and all the girls are in the same boat. Everybody’s nice but the volunteers and all the staff I can’t get enough of them. They’re absolutely lovely and they do help us and there’s always somebody there if you’re in trouble or something, ‘oh can you manage?’, you know and they take us out on lovely drives. It is just a wonderful family.” (Edith Perriman) “Because it’s just a joy to be here anyway and also I’m very fortunate…this morning…Cherry made the doctor’s appointment for me, came and picked me up, took me to the doctors, stayed with me, brought me down the town. Wonderful and I have another one that’s taking me for another appointment on Friday for the Chiropodist. I don’t need... well, this is the family. Wonderful.” (Rosemary Rickard) “… coming here has been lovely.” (Dorothy Knowles) “Dear David, Thank you very much for mending my precious white stick. I am so pleased to be able to use it again. It was a present from my sister which she bought at the garden shop at ‘Chatsworth House’ Derbyshire so I’m really VERY pleased.”(Peggy Marshall) “Just a note to say a very big thank you for helping me last week. The photos are just the right size to go on the blue badge form, and it amazes me how you managed to get them just right. Once again thank you for all your help.

I don’t know how I would be able to cope without the help of you and all your colleagues.” (Pat Smith) “…the staff give so willingly. I am so grateful for the love and kindness and the help and comfort of the Lord in all my 93 years.” (Lily Collison) “This Society has saved my life because my husband died within a month of this business happening so I had a double whammy and if I’d had to stay at home - we had no family so I had nobody to call on, no family of our own, and I would have been dead long since. They saved my life - this Society.” (Pam Watkins) –9–

If you’d like to buy a copy of this book, available in hardback from mid-October 2018, please contact SIGHT SUPPORT WORTHING 48 Rowlands Road Worthing BN11 3JT Tel. 01903 235782 Monday to Friday from 9.30am until 4.00pm

www.sightsupportworthing.org.uk

The Authors Lela Tredwell is a prize-winning author whose words have appeared in books, anthologies, magazines, journals and online. She has a Master’s degree in Creative Writing and a degree in English with History. She was a winner of Word Factory’s Fables for a Modern World, first runner up in the Pinch Literary Awards and commended in the Orwell Society’s Dystopian Fiction Prize. Previously a lecturer and manager in education, she is currently working as an editor, writer and researcher. Her recent published writings have involved research into the inventions of the Great Exhibition, the disappearance of Einstein’s brain and sea monsters of the Carta Marina.

Chris Hare is the author of nine books on local and regional history as well as numerous pamphlets and magazine articles. He has a first degree in British Studies and a Master’s degree in Life History from the University of Sussex. Having previously worked as an adult education teacher and manager, he is currently the director of a heritage consultancy - History People UK Ltd - that manages community heritage projects across Sussex. His previous publications have included research into smugglers, folklore songs and Worthing during the Second World War.

Providing the Jam – A story of the visually impaired community of Worthing

Wood-chopper, barber and poultry farmer may seem surprising occupations for a visually impaired person but prepare to be inspired. This book charts the determination and fortitude of blind and partially sighted people, alongside their supporters. By focusing on one community on the South Coast of England it highlights the changing attitudes towards those with sight disabilities through the 20th Century. It is a story in which you will meet charming characters, kind friends and extraordinary people with wonderful instincts.

The organization that would become Sight Support Worthing started out in 1910. In this heroic journey discover how they fought struggle and strife to continue in their vital work of providing comfort to the visually impaired people of Worthing.

PROVIDING THE JAM

A story of the visually impaired community of Worthing

Lela Tredwell and Chris Hare