Hear about charity founder's inspiring journey at Clitheroe Library's Braille 200 event
Clitheroe Library will host a celebration event next week as part of a nationwide tour from the Royal National Institute of Blind (RNIB) to mark the 200th anniversary of braille.
It’s 200 years since Louis Braille developed the six-dot tactile reading system that would become known as braille.
The RNIB, the UK’s leading sight loss charity, is leading a year of celebrations – running into 2025 – across the UK to recognise the bicentenary of the braille code and to highlight its importance in helping blind and partially sighted people access education, employment and live their everyday lives.
Clitheroe Library has been chosen as the destination in the North West of England, with the celebration event taking place on Thursday 5 December, 10am-3pm.
Chris Wakefield will be discussing his great-great-grandfather, George Robert Boyle, and his transformative work on braille interpointing and practical braille maps.
Following that, Chris Tattersall, from Clitheroe, will be talking about the impact it's had on his life since losing his sight. Chris, 71, has a rare condition that led to the deterioration of his eyesight throughout his 30s, eventually forcing him to retire at 40.
The former bricklayer said braille helped him to regain some of his independence, and led to him embarking on a journey that would see him teaching braille for going on three decades, opening many doors along the way.
"When I first finished work I was virtually housebound," Chris said. "My wife was doing everything for me. When I first started to learn braille, I'd get a monthly magazine in braille.
"Instead of my wife ringing up and ordering my books I could do it myself. That was my start regaining some of my independence."
He added: "If you're reading a novel you can escape, you can stretch your imagination. You can escape into a novel just the same as a sighted person."
Chris began teaching braille in the community after two years studying at Bolton College, where he would travel by train with his first guide dog.
Chris later founded Braille IT, which offers accredited free tuition in braille skills to blind or visually impaired, parents and carers at different centres around East Lancashire; Accrington, Blackburn, Burnley, Clitheroe, Chorley and Haslingden.
"Once you've learned braille you've got a skill for life," Chris said. "There's so much independence you can get from reading braille, you're not asking someone to do this for you, to do that, you can actually read it yourself. If you've got braille it's always there."
In 2016, Braille IT received the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, the highest a voluntary group can receive.
Chris carried the 2012 Paralympic Games torch across London’s Abbey Road and carried the Queen's baton for the Commonwealth games in Blackburn 2022.
Chris is now urging people to come to the Braille 200 event at Clitheroe Library to learn more about the positive impacts braille has had on his life and many others in the blind and partially sighted community.
Cllr Peter Buckley, cabinet member for Community and Cultural Services, said:
"We're thrilled to have been chosen by the RNIB as the North West stop on their Braille 200 tour.
"Clitheroe Library and all of our libraries are proud to champion braille and I look forward to hearing more about its rich history and the positive impact it's had in Lancashire.
"I would like to give special thanks to Chris Tattersall for his inspirational work in promoting the importance of learning braille for those in the blind and partially sighted community.
"'We are delighted to welcome him and Chris Wakefield to Clitheroe, so please come along to Clitheroe Library to celebrate the revolutionary impact of braille."
A spokesperson for the Royal National Institute of Blind (RNIB), said:
"Come and celebrate the 200th anniversary of the revolutionary system of braille with us and discover the huge value of tactile literacy. Our December stop is at Clitheroe Library on Thursday 5 December, 10am-3pm.
"The day will have talks, an interactive session, invitations to share your braille story, information stands and a special talk from Chris Tattersall, who founded the charity Braille IT, teaches braille and values the huge impact it has on people's lives.
"Everyone and anyone who is interested in braille is welcome. Refreshments provided. For further details please email us at braille200@rnib.org.uk."