The volunteers who read and record the Tenby Observer, which is distributed to visually impaired people both locally and beyond each week, are in the news themselves. The Tenby Talking Newspaper group has just completed its fifth successful year by joining the national Talking Newspaper Association and appointing officers and a committee. First distributed to local visually impaired people on October 8, 1999, the group was set-up to read and record the Tenby Observer, by the Pembrokeshire Access Group and Tracy Martin Smith, the rehabilitation officer for the visually impaired. Approximately 30 people were originally on the mailing list, but this has now increased to well over 50. The tapes are mostly sent to addresses in South Pembrokeshire, but some go to Ystradgynlais, Chester and Buxton, which ensures those who have had to move away are able to keep in touch with all the news in the Observer as well. The Tenby Talking Newspaper has four teams of volunteers - St. Issell's Women's Institute, The Rotary Clubs of Saundersfoot and Tenby and an ad-hoc team of volunteers - who each meet once a month to read and record the news in Pembrokeshire's oldest newspaper that week. "As a result of joining the Talking Newspaper Association, which has some 600 members providing tapes of about 1,600 weekly and monthly newspapers and magazine, we have had to formalise matters and now have to have a constitution, officials and an annual general meeting," explained Eva Rich, who was also involved in spearheading the initiative. At the annual general meeting, held last month, the following appointments were made: chairperson - Eva Rich; vice-chairperson - Newman Vincent; secretary - John Harris; treasurer - Bob Storey; co-ordinator - Jean Roberts. As well as the officers, there are four team leaders, namely Philippa Giles, Newman Vincent, Bob Storey and Jean Frobel. During the last 12 months, the tape duplicating machine has had to be replaced, together with the tapes and plastic envelopes, at a cost of some £2,500. This was paid for thanks to a grant of £1,000 from PAVS (Pembrokeshire Action for Voluntary Services), as well as substantial donations from the two local Rotary Clubs, the Lions, Round Table, Saundersfoot Inner Wheel and the Tenby Observer. At the recent meeting, Eva, together with the two visually impaired committee members, Margaret Walker and John Webb, expressed their sincere gratitude to all the team leaders, their readers and copiers for providing such an excellent service, with special thanks also going to Jean Roberts, who co-ordinates the matters each week. "We are also grateful to Saundersfoot Methodist Chapel for the use of their premises for recording and copying each week and to the Post Office for their free of charge delivery service, and of course, the Tenby Observer for allowing the edited taped edition to be recorded each week," said Eva. Anyone who would like to help and could spare three hours or so on a Friday morning once a month to help read the Observer, or anyone who would like to receive the tapes, is asked to contact Eva on 812868.