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Rodney Scase. I joined Sound East just before its' first birthday and have served continuously ever since. I started as a backroom boy in the days when the equipment had to be taken out of a cupboard and set up each week, and put away again afterwards. I worked my way through the ranks eventually becoming a reader and later one of the editors of the Newstape. I was also a Magazine editor for a time and one of the early Informer editors. I am now well into my second stint as Chairman of the Association. My thanks have to go to all the numerous volunteers who staff all the teams, and without whose help we could not continue our service to our visually handicapped listeners. |
| Val Ogilvie. I became a Sound East "Friend" after seeing a display in the Library several years ago. When the Informer started up I was a copyist and then started reading. For several years I have edited the Red Team news, which is very enjoyable. I've recently taken on the post of Secretary, and am now having to get to grips with the office computer after some years of keyboard-free retirement! (I also have a "cupboard" at No. 88 where I look after our collection of audio books). | 
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Glynne Gwilliam. I joined Sound East as a reader in 1980 shortly after its' first birthday. After a short time I became a newstape editor and for some years was also public relations officer, a post that came almost automatically seeing that I was assistant editor of the Lowestoft Journal and therefore in the ideal position to ensure publicity for us. While I was PRO I started a quarterly newsletter which is still being continued. I served as chairman of the association for two years. When the Informer was started in 1994 I was on the sub-committee that set it up and became one of the two original editors. For some years I continued editing both news and information tapes. I also put my professional interviewing skills to good use by contributing many items for the magazine tape. My late wife was a reader and joined the committee as fund-raiser, involving me in helping on that side of things. Ironically, when I remarried two years after her sudden death my second wife became a Sound East fundraiser, so I was lumbered again! In May 1999 I suffered a severe stroke and had to drop out of active service for about three years. By 2003 I was able to make a comeback to the committee and took on the role of staff co-ordinator. Later in the year I also returned to editing an Informer team, and also followed the late Mick Shaw as vice-chairman. Now, in 2010, I have given in to advancing years and dropped both editor and vice-chairman roles. At this year's annual general meeting I also hope to hand over the co-ordinator job to a younger person. |
| Colin Dixon. I have been a volunteer with Sound East for over 20 years. I started out helping the late Ron Garrod, he was the technical manager at the time, to clean the recording heads on the tape copying machines. I don’t remember when but I later joined the Green team as a reader under the editorship of the late Charles Cudmore. Charles was also one of the two magazine editors producing the monthly magazine tape. When John Easter, the other magazine editor, decided to relinquish his post, I was asked if I would take over as editor and producer, a position I still hold today, and is a job I very much enjoy doing. In those early days recording interviews, describing events such as the local carnival, and doing general walkabouts, were all done on heavy tape recorders. Today with the advent of digital recording equipment the job is easier and the recorders are much lighter! | 
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Don and Pat Powell. We have been involved with Sound East since 1987. We had a blind friend, Stanley, so we were always interested in helping blind people; but it was Jo Shaw, who Pat worked with at Denes High School, who invited us to help with Sound East. Don, with the help of Chris and Joyce, does pouch sorting every Friday morning and once a month on a Tuesday morning with Christine. Pat is Registration Secretary and enjoys the contact with the listeners. We also have a turn once a month with registration and copy the Magazine thumbdrive. |
| Phil Holden. I am the new boy in that I only joined Sound East in 2002. I joined as a recordist and then moved onto the committee as PRO and more recently as vice-chair. I became involved as a result of a plea in the local paper for volunteers. I had a friend who became blind through diabetes and received a talking newspaper, and as I am also a radio amateur and used to electronic gear, decided to offer my services. I also contribute to the bi-monthly magazine and am often out and about gathering interviews. The most rewarding part of the job is when I meet with our listeners and realise how much they appreciate the thumb drives popping through their door each week. | 
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My name is Chris. Iam a visually impaired person in my early sixties. What I do in Sound East is erase the tapes, then turn the labels over on the pouches. I am a Committee member. If the listeners have a complaint I report back to the Committee. |
| Paula Boardman.I have been a volunteer with Sound East for over 17 years. I was first introduced to the charity by a dear friend, Iris Douce, who at the time was secretary. My job was Registration which I am still doing. I also got involved with fund raising, mainly with the summer fetes which we held in the delightful garden of Mrs. Jean Mobbs. Sadly this came to an end a few years ago when Mrs. Mobbs sold her property. However, we have since held coffee mornings on a smaller scale. Also I help with our annual Concert. I became a committee member a few years ago, and enjoy being involved in such a worthwhile charity. | 
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