£25,000 for guide dogs

This is enough to train five dogs to work as the “eyes” of visually handicapped users.

A Battle resident who is the local contact for an American trust contacted the organisation.

Because she lives within the branch’s area and as a result of the work of the branch chairman and treasurer, the donation will be credited to the branch’s fund-raising.

The branch’s major fund-raising effort, its two-mile sponsored walk along Bexhill seafront and back, is held every two years.

This year’s walk will be on Sunday, May 15, starting from the foot of Galley Hill at 3pm.

It will be linked to the movement’s national Go Walkies fund-raising initiative. Walkers, sighted supporters and guide dog owners alike, are encouraged to bring their dogs with them.

Application forms for the sponsored walk are now available on 01424 434532.

Branch chairman Nigel Lockwood in his annual report told the meeting of his surprise and delight at another unexpected donation.

As retirement approached, the school teacher made it clear that he was not expecting a gift. But knowing of his long-standing work for Guide Dogs, pupils collected £200 for the charity.

Ten local schools had promised to publicise the May 15 Go Walkies event, the chairman reported.

Thanking his fellow officers, committee members and supporters for their work during the past year, he said it was encouraging that three new grateful guide dog owners had offered their support.

Treasurer Joan Inskipp reported that total income for the year had bden £12,352. This included donations of £1,664, collections of £2,680, £846 from the sale of trading items and £3,341 from locally organised events.

Collections outside Sainsbury’s Bexhill store the previous Friday and Saturday had produced £902.75, compared with £750 the previous year.

The treasurer had complained to headquarters that the branch’s illustrated report on the presentation in January to St Richard’s Catholic College of a framed guide dog picture marking £5,000 of fund-raising by successive Year 7 students had not been used in the national magazine Forward.

The president had now been promised in a telephone conversation that it would be published in the June edition.

Officers were re-elected en bloc. Committee members were also re-elected in the same way with the exception of Doreen O’Donnell, who is standing down after 14 years’ faithful service.

Doreen, who will continue to work for the cause, was presented with a bouquet and gift. To mark her service, it was unanimously agreed to make her the branch’s vice president.

Regional fund-raising coordinator Phillipa Jan said Bexhill, Hastings and Rother West rated as her top branch for the amount of cash it raised through shop counter-top collecting boxes.

She congratulated members on their success and thanked them for their hard work.