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93
As the evening pottery classes held at Raglan Hayesford School
for Boys, Bromley had been successful, a second class was
organised on Thursday evenings at Burnt Ash Junior School. This
met the need of blind persons wishing to learn pottery who live
in the Beckenham area. The blind persons attending Burnt Ash
Lane School share a room with sighted members of another group.
At first it was feared that difficulties would arise out of having two
groups in the same room. The fear was unfounded as the people
concerned have worked together harmoniously.
In October, the Kent Association for the Blind held their
Annual Exhibition and Sale of Work at Maidstone. Parties of
blind and partially-sighted persons from the Borough visited the
Exhibition to see what prizes had been won by local people in the
competition and also to give their support to the sale of work
On 21st October the Combined Charities Fair was held in the
Congregational Church, Bromley. Members of my staff manned
a stall from which handwork made by the blind and physically
handicapped persons was sold. At the end of November the
Council staff supported joint Sales of Work arranged at the
Bromley and Orpington Offices. In December the social clubs for
the blind organised Christmas parties for the elderly blind and
partially-sighted and in early January club members were guests
at the Kent Association for the Blind's New Year Party held in
Maidstone.
Department of Employment and Productivity
The Department of Employment and Productivity made
arrangements for four newly-registered blind men and one partiallysighted
man to attend a three months' course of industrial rehabilitation
at Torquay. One blind man has been re-instated with his
former employer, a second has gained employment in open industry,
another man finished his rehabilitation course in March, 1968,
and the fourth person was not placed in employment due to ill
health. The partially-sighted man has not yet been placed in
suitable employment.
St. Dunstaners
The number of St. Dunstaners registered in the Borough at
31st March, 1968, was 12, 10 of whom were in employment and
two over 65 years of age.
British Wireless for the Blind Fund
The Kent Association for the Blind continued to act as agents
for the British Wireless for the Blind Fund providing both mains
and battery wireless sets to blind persons resident within the
Borough who do not have access to a radio. The number of
wireless sets issued during the year ended 31st March 1968, was
seven.