| Description | Interviews with people staying at the pre-vocational training centre at Torquay.
Track 1: recording setup 0.18 mins
Interview with Joe Stanley, Co. Durham, a former miner. He talks about the loss of his sight, being certified as blind, giving up mining, and the emotional effects it had on him. He talks about how he managed to get around his local area, the welfare payments he received for his family and the effects of his loss of sight on his wife. He expresses his feelings about the training he has received at Torquay and the lack of employment opportunities where he lives. He discusses his feelings about having to learn new skills and the things he has found difficult (tracks 2-5).
Philip Donnellan is introduced to Joe Stanley, and Charles Parker interviews Owen Morgan, a former miner from New Tredegar, South Wales. He talks about the process of gradually losing his sight, what he can see now, and his reactions to it. He talks about the things he misses seeing, particularly the faces of family and friends. Joe Stanley joins the conversation to talk about the things he misses and his mobility problems and the possibility of having a guide dog. Both men talk about their worries about getting another job in mining areas and the reluctance of young people to work in the mines. Joe Stanley talks about the sports activities he is no longer able to do and having to develop new techniques to do daily tasks. Owen Morgan talks about how he manages at home and both men talk about their impressions of Torquay. Joe Stanley mentions his worries about how his wife his managing at home (tracks 6-11).
Charles Parker is introduced to Mr Symon and Mr Tom Drake. He records a progress review between Mr Symon and Owen Morgan concerning his assessment for employment and need for further training at Letchworth. Owen Morgan talks about possible difficulties in getting to a place of work near his home (tracks 12-13).
Total: 33.13 mins
Dubber's reference number: PLA KF549C0062280 |