SEPTEMBER is a special month for the Salisbury Journal and its delivering of local news.
The Salisbury & District Talking Newspaper Association is to produce the 1,500th cassette edition of the Salisbury Journal on September 25.
Over 200 blind, partially sighted and other disabled people in the Salisbury area now receive the Journal in this way, free of charge.
The Salisbury Talking Newspaper is amongst the oldest in the country and for the past 20 years has been recorded and delivered for 51 weeks of the year.
Sonia Woolley, production manager for the Talking Newspaper Association, said: "The Talking Newspaper helps to keep local people in touch with the paper that means the most to them. We get little notes and messages from those who receive it, and they greatly appreciate what we do".
Originally produced in the spare bedroom of founder Norman Day, a Mayoral Appeal allowed a multi-copying machine to be bought, and registering for charitable status enabled free postal delivery to be achieved.
The tapes are now put together in the basement of Sarum College in Salisbury Close. Each Wednesday, dedicated volunteers' sort and clean the tapes ready for recording, while Thursday sees the recording of the master tape for copying by a group of Bishop Wordsworth School students. Further volunteers then sort the tapes ready for posting.
The Association receives no public funding or grants, and is able to produce the Talking Newspaper with donations from local individuals and charity groups. The special 1,500th edition recording will take place at Sarum College.
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