Stroud Shambles WI

PRESIDENT Joan opened the meeting and welcomed all ladies present.

Apologies were received from Chris Phillips and Sue Browning.

The minutes of the meeting held on July 8, were taken to be correct and signed.

There are four birthdays this month and ladies were presented with posies.

Joan thanked June Reed for providing the lovely posies.

Various notices were read out and then put on display, also lists for our lunch club and theatre group if anyone is interested.

A thank you to June Blackmore for organising our August trip to Toddington by steam train, a great day out enjoyed by all, except for the pouring rain!

Jenny gave her report on the Stroud Show WI competition for five bags, all made with different crafts.

The Judges gave quite favourable remarks; we came fourth this time.

Joan thanked Jenny and her helpers.

June was thanked for her quiz at the July meeting.

We have received two lovely pottery items from Neil Alcock, our May speaker and demonstrator, this was very generous of him and we are very grateful.

Joan then introduced our speaker Frances Kenneally, her talk Hearing Dogs for the Deaf.

We were introduced to her hearing dog 'Grace'.

Frances is very deaf and relies heavily on her dog Grace, until Grace appeared in her life she was unable to travel on trains for over 16 years without a panic attack.

Now she can travel on any train and public places with confidence with Grace at her side.

The three benefits hearing dogs give to the deaf are:- independence, confidence and companionship.

One in six people are significantly deaf, 800,000 are severely deaf.

15 – 35 year olds have the biggest rising to deafness through loud noises which kills the nerves in ears.

Hearing dogs reduce isolation and provide visibility to an otherwise invisible disabled person.

The charity for hearing dogs for the deaf first opened in 1982 at Oxford and has gone from strength to strength, relying on donations.

From breeding, training and then to partnership with a deaf person is extremely costly.

A lot of fund raising is necessary.

Over 1,600 dogs have been trained and have a working life of 10 years.

980 working partnerships have been arranged, but 293 people are waiting for hearing dogs, figures are rising every day.

We were then given a demonstration with Grace hearing the door bell, the telephone and an emergency fire alarm upon which she ran to Frances and laid down informing Frances there was an emergency.

These assistance dogs are allowed in cafes and all public places.

If attacked by another dog there is a heavy fine for its owner.

Some dogs are guide dogs and assistance dogs for the deaf; but these dual working dogs are very rare.

Frances ended her talk reading a lovely poem about the deaf.

Joan thanked Frances for showing us how difficult and exhausting it is to be deaf and the wonderful work these dogs do.

All of us fell in love with Grace, she is an amazing dog, and does a wonderful and worthwhile job.

We then had a chat and a cup of coffee.

We meet the second Wednesday in the month at the Congregational Church Hall, Bedford Street, Stroud, at 10.30am.

We would be delighted if you would come and join us.