A charity which supports people with hearing difficulties enjoyed a momentous first on Wednesday.

Wisbech Standard: Wisbech & District Talking Newspaper. AGM presentation to retiring committee members: from left to right – Mervyn Hart (new treasurer), Derek Mews (retiring treasurer), Joan Wiletts (retiring committee member) and Tony Vale (Talking Newspaper Federation committee member)Wisbech & District Talking Newspaper. AGM presentation to retiring committee members: from left to right – Mervyn Hart (new treasurer), Derek Mews (retiring treasurer), Joan Wiletts (retiring committee member) and Tony Vale (Talking Newspaper Federation committee member) (Image: COPYRIGHT, 2009)

Wisbech & District Talking Newspaper sent out its first recording produced on USB sticks via Royal Mail’s free Articles for the Blind postal service.

The digital recordings are the result of the phenomenally successful New Technology for Talking Newspaper (TN4TN) fundraising appeal, which allowed the charity to buy all the necessary new equipment to produce them.

Although there was much to celebrate, the charity’s annual general meeting was also tinged with sadness.

The newspaper said goodbye to two of its long-serving committee members – treasurer Derek Mews and committee member Joan Wiletts, although she will be continuing as a narrator.

Anyone who is partially sighted, or unable to read print due to a physical disability, and would like to receive the newspapers and magazine, contact Isobel Shippey at talkingnewspaperwisbech@gmail.com, www.wdtn.co.uk or on 07883 428 954.