THE Talking Newspaper for Chard and Ilminster is celebrating 30 years in the business this summer.

Newsline, which records headlines for Chard, Ilminster and Crewkerne before sending it freepost to partially-sighted people, was formed in June 1986.

Alma Bird, one of the founding members and current chairman of the charity talked to the Chard and Ilminster News about how Newsline has developed over the last 30 years.

The charity was formed after the success of a Talking Newspaper in Yeovil and Sherborne which was formed by Roundtable members in 1975.

She said: “In 1977 they decided Chard, Ilminster and Crewkerne should have one.

“We started in June 1986. We held the first annual general meeting and Newsline was formed.

“I came on the scene reading in 1986, which I like doing, and then we opened the studio in 1990.

“They used to read in my study and then copy it at somebody else’s house because we didn’t have any equipment back then.

“I have got four teams and each has six or seven people in.

“Somebody does recording with a laptop, there are three readers and an editor. Then there is somebody who prepares the pouches and somebody who does copying.”

Around 10 years ago, Newsline was forced to change its system, moving from cassette types to memory sticks.

“When I first started in 1986 we had to do 94 cassette tapes every week,” Alma added.

“Gradually, we started to get a lot of complaints about cassette tapes and we had to go digital. It is so much easier.

“The cassette players weren’t working and I said whether you liked it or not we have got to go digital.

“We send 27 memory sticks to partially sighted people who get free post. They have 10, sometimes 20, people sat around listening.

“Lately I have got three new listeners because we started advertising and there were still people who didn’t know that this was available.

“The Sovereign Players we use cost us £25 each from Kings Audio in Yeovil. So many of our listeners are elderly people who find these so much easier to use."

The next AGM, which will mark the 30th anniversary, is being held in the Bell and Crown pub, in Combe Street, on June 30. The meeting starts at 7.30pm and is being held in the skittle alley.