Volunteer recorder sought for talking newspaper group

Bexhill Talking Newspaper has already invested in digital recording equipment.

Now, with the end of world-wide cassette tape production predicted, it is proposing put out its free weekly recorded news and current affairs service via digital memory sticks.

It is investing 6,000 in new digital bulk copiers and "simple-to-operate" boom boxes with which its recipients will listen to the material.

But two key members of the association's team of recorders have had to quit.

Working on a rota which with a full compleement of team members means devoting one afternoon every five weeks.

The recorders attend the 45-minute reading of the week's news from the Bexhill Observer then undertake the production of around 150 cassette tapes on the charity's bulk copiers.

Bela Ogonovsky says that with the resignation of a second volunteer recorder the team would be down to four, making it difficult to provide cover in the event of holidays or illness.

He is appealing for anyone willing to be trained as a recorder to contact him on 01424 844639 or 07752047379.

He said; "The amount of time involved for a trained recordist - on our present equipment - is about four to four-and-a-half hours from 12noon to 4.30pm-ish on a Friday. This would be once every five weeks if we have five recordists.

"We shall be going digital in the near future and would expect the time commitment then to reduce to about three hours."