The curious connection between a Sussex charity's 105 year story and one of the greatest sagas ever penned
As the celebrated author John Galsworthy was preparing to publish The Forsyte Saga as a single collected volume in 1922 so a West Sussex charity was embarking on its own 4 Sight Saga.
This year, 4Sight Vision Support celebrates its 105th birthday and to mark the occasion supporters attended a reception at the Tinwood Estate near Chichester.
4Sight Vision Support helps people across West Sussex who are blind and sight-impaired to live Life Without Limits. Their main office is in Victoria Drive, Bognor Regis.
Reaching its 105th birthday would simply not have been possible without generations of volunteers, leaders, and service users, valuing the charity and understanding just how vital its enduring work is.
It has been their passion, determination, ambition, drive, and commitment that has shaped 4Sight into the truly unique and life-enhancing organisation that it is today.
Its mission is to make a positive difference at every stage to the lives of those who are blind or sight-impaired - through hospital-based support, vision assessments and equipment, advising on the welfare benefits and concessions available, improving eye health, helping people to make the most of technology and to access practical health and wellbeing activities.
Many of those who work at its offices are vision-impaired themselves. They understand. They have the lived experience. And their enthusiasm and resolve to make a difference shines through when you meet them.
The celebratory reception included a wine tasting of some of Tinwood's finest sparklings alongside a wonderful descriptive journey of each grape from the adjoining vines to the finished bottle.
4Sight Vision Support chief executive officer Kirstie Thomas and the chair of trustees Dr Norman Boyland both gave power speeches at the event and in my capacity as High Sheriff of West Sussex I closed proceedings.
I referenced their own 4 Sight Saga and, as a life long journalist, gave the news headlines of the day. Except, although they are just as relevant now - they were actually the stories making the news in 1921 when the charity was formed.
Everything goes full circle!
As with so many organisations fund-raising remains a key concern. The independent charity relies on support from volunteers, fundraising events, donations and grants to fund its life-changing services and is a past recipient of the prestigious Queen's Award for Voluntary Service.
According to the charity there are perhaps 34,000 residents in West Sussex with sight-impairment to some degree. Reaching and helping as many of them as possible remains their driving passion. I know the first 105 years is merely the beginning of not merely a saga but of a story of enduring commitment, support and individual success. https://www.4sight.org.uk/
[] The High Sheriff of West Sussex is an independent, non-political, and voluntary royal appointment. The office represents the Crown for matters relating to the judiciary, law, and order, while acting as a high-profile champion for local communities and voluntary services. It is entirely unpaid. Separately, Mr Shipton is the Editor At Large of SussexWorld and its sister newspapers – reflecting his involvement with the titles dating back nearly half a century.