| Description | Sound effects of the use of machinery, Charles Parker lists the phases of skill development taught at the pre-vocational training centre at Torquay, and an unidentified man talks about the attitudes towards employment that the blind worker should have and describes how some of the tools are operated (track 1).
Interview with Edmund Thomas from Pembrokeshire and Nicholas Brown, a Jamaican man from Nottingham. Edmund Thomas talks about losing his sight in an accident six months previously and the effects this has had on his life and relationships. He discusses his hopes for future employment, his previous job. Nicholas Brown talks about losing his sight through illness and his previous job as a labourer on the M1 motorway. He talks about the importance of the training centre at Torquay in helping him to gain employment to help his family and his experiences at the training centre (tracks 2-3).
Sound effects of people walking on streets, using canes and sticks (track 4).
Interview with Roy Hart from Cambridgeshire. He talks about the gradual loss of his sight and his feelings about it. He talks about his former job as a plumber and the length of time he has spent without welfare support or home teachers. Edmund Thomas joins the conversation to discuss differences around the country in provision for blind people. Roy talks about the difficulty in supporting his family and the amount of sick pay he received (track 5).
Track 6: test tone 0.12 mins
Roy Hart continues to talk about his attitude towards his loss of sight, his determination to fight the system and his worries about his financial situation. Other men join the conversation and talk about their problems in supporting themselves financially due to their loss of sight. They give their opinions about the relevance of the skills they are learning at the training centre and discuss the possibilities of using the long cane. Edmund Thomas joins the conversation and talks about levels of light and darkness that he sees, whether he is aware of colour and his difficulties with mobility. Others talk about their fear of being injured when walking and the advantages of the long cane, the realisation of what the loss of sight entailed for their home life and family relationships and the need to carry on with their lives and interests as much as possible despite their loss of sight and lack of money (track 7-10).
Total: 33.01 mins
Dubber's reference number: PLA KF549C0063280 |