Mrs Allen-King, now aged 70, spent the rest of her life doing voluntary work and campaigning for blind and disabled people. It wasn t until seven years later that Jill successfully completed a training course with her first guide dog and finally, after years of being virtually housebound, was able to begin rebuilding her confidence and reclaiming her independence.

Born into poverty during the war years, she lost her left eye around the time of her first birthday, after contracting measles. She is on familiar terms with ministers, and when she shakes them by the hand, she does not let go until she has finished with them.

Having been told to conceal her visual impairment, school was a struggle for want of the appropriate support.

My husband can come for short walks each day, but he is restricted due to having dementia and heart problems.

No one can fail to be inspired by Jill s perseverance and achievements or by the fantastic work that guide dogs carry out for their owners. Let us be honest, peoples’ attitude to blindness, unless they are confronted by it directly or know someone in that position, is that they would find it quite impossible to live without sight.

More than 1,000 blind and visually impaired people in Southend should be included on the government’s list of those most at risk from coronavirus, the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has said. This was designed to stop people parking on the pavements and encouraging garden owners to cut back overhanging trees and bushes so that any blind pedestrian could not get an uncomfortable or sometimes painful slap in the face. Most purchases from business sellers are protected by the Consumer Contract Regulations 2013 which give you the right to cancel the purchase within 14 days after the day you receive the item. A blind Pride of Britain winner has slammed plans for the mass closure of rail ticket offices after being left stranded and “petrified” at a station.I first met her after being told that there was a young blind woman with a small daughter who was a very effective captain in the Girls Brigade. The joy that her guide dogs have given to her and the freedom and independence that they have made possible for her shine out.