Torch Trust celebrates 50 years serving those with sight loss
"A fantastic and memorable weekend that exceeded all our expectations!" was how CEO Gordon Temple described the thanksgiving celebrations which took place in Leicestershire to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Torch Trust, a Christian organisation with a vision for people with sight loss.
Gordon Temple presented Torch ambitions for the future – that no blind or partially sighted person should be denied the opportunity to hear and respond to the Gospel message, to grow in their faith, or to become a fully valued member of a local church community.
More than 400 people attended the thanksgiving service at Market Harborough’s Leisure Centre adjacent to Torch House. Representatives came from local churches; groups of blind people came from all over the UK and from several European countries. The music for the afternoon was led by well-known blind singer songwriter Marilyn Baker and the Torch Singers.
Presentations were made by the four leaders of the different aspects of Torch work – Janet Stafford for the international ministry, David Palmer for the regional fellowship groups; Gail Millar for the holidays for blind people; and Lydia Tebbutt for the literature work, the transcribing of Bibles and Christian literatures into braille, giant print and audio formats. Tributes were also paid to the co-founder of Torch, Stella Heath, who died recently.
Before and after the service, Torch House was open and hundreds of people visited to see the displays and buy materials for those with sight loss. About 90 people stayed at nearby Hothorpe Hall conference centre for a full weekend programme of anniversary events.
"There was a great sense of reunion throughout the whole weekend," said Gordon Temple. "People who had been associated with Torch throughout its half century came together to reinvigorate old friendships and make new ones."
Find out more at www.torchtrust.org
PHOTO: Cutting the anniversary cake at the Torch Trust Thanksgiving are (left to right) Torch International Leader Janet Stafford, blind singer-songwriter Marilyn Baker and Olive Cogger of Aylesbury, whose involvement with the charity dates back to the 1950s
