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Various activities have been arranged throughout the Borough for those Blind
Persons who are not in employment or at School. In addition to the three Social Clubs
for the Blind in Twickenham, Richmond and Barnes, all of which are run by Voluntary
Organisations, handicraft classes arranged directly by the Welfare Department are
held regularly at Twickenham and at Richmond, and special classes in Cookery, Flower
Arrangement and Pottery have been organised through the Education Committee. One
or two Handicapped Persons also attend the Pottery Class.
Other services which were provided during the year for Blind Persons included
making arrangements for special holidays in 10 cases, payment of the Blind Reader's
membership subscription to the National Library for the Blind in 26 cases, payment of
the rental charges for Talking Books to the Royal National Institute for the Blind in
87 cases, distributing 24 wireless sets provided through the Wireless for the Blind Fund
and maintaining these and other sets as necessary, making arrangements for the issue
of free wireless or reduced cost television licences and authorising the issue of free
travel passes. Arrangements were also made in conjunction with the Department of
Employment and Productivity for one person who had recently become blind to attend
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It will be seen that there were 316 persons on the register who were aged 60 and
over, 242 of whom did not lose their sight until they were over this age. Of the
children under 16, 1 was under school age, 2 were attending special schools for the
blind, 1 attending a special unit for the deaf-blind, 1 attending a special school for
E.S.N, pupils and 1 who had only recently become blind was not at school pending a
decision in regard to her future. 110 people were suffering from other handicaps in
addition to blindness, 32 were in Residential Homes under Part III of the National
Assistance Act, 1948, 3 were in hospitals for the mentally ill, 1 was in hospital for the
mentally subnormal and 6 were in Chronic Sick Units.
Of the 93 people aged between 16 and 65, 2 were still engaged in full time studies
and 41 were in employment. There were also 4 persons over 65 who were still working.
There were no persons employed in special workshops for the blind and only 2 working
under the Homeworkers Scheme. The Table below shows the occupations followed by
those in employment: —
Professional, Technical, Administrative, etc.
Masseurs, Physiotherapists. 4
Musicians (including Teachers) 4
Social Welfare Workers, etc. 1
Proprietors, Managers, etc. 2
Clerical and Related Workers
Typists, Secretaries 6
Braille Proof Readers 2
Clerical Workers 1
Sales Workers
Shop Managers 2
Shop Assistants 1
Craftsmen, Production Process Workers, Labourers
Machine Tool Operators 6
Fitters and Assemblers 1
Inspectors, Testers 1
Craftsmen, Production Process Workers 4
Agricultural and Horticultural ~Wor\ers
Gardeners 2
Farmers, Market Gardeners, etc. 1
Service and Miscellaneous Workers
Domestic, Cleaners, Caretakers 4
Miscellaneous 3