Blind walker Rob takes a stroll with Radio 4’s Clare Balding
18/05/2009
Rob Davies is a familiar face on the Alnwick Health Walks, run by charitable organisation North Country Leisure (NCL). Each week he walks for several miles in and around Alnwick, negotiating uneven ground and adverse weather conditions just like his fellow walkers. He delights others with his knowledge of the local area and his talent for ‘bird listening’.
Rob however, has been visually impaired for nearly thirty years, losing the very last of his sight just over a year ago. Now in his sixties, he suffered two heart attacks last year and began doing the health walks to aid his recovery and improve his health. Assisted by a sighted guide, Nicola Sanders from NCL Alnwick Sports Development, Rob has been walking on a weekly basis for over six months.
Word of Rob’s story recently came to the attention of Radio 4’s ‘Ramblings’ programme, presented by Clare Balding. On a specially scheduled walk last week, Clare and her BBC team joined Rob, his wife Catherine and a group of regular walkers on a stroll through the town’s Hulne Park.
Whilst chatting to Clare, Rob delighted her with his extensive knowledge of bird song, identifying anything from a wren to a nuthatch, a pheasant to a songthrush – one of his personal favourites.
Rob says “I thoroughly enjoy these walks. As well as my health, my bird listening is improving all the time, particularly since setting up the “Blind Birders’ website with fellow enthusiasts. Nicola is a great guide and quickly became accustomed to letting me know when a step or hazard was coming up. Now she does it almost without thinking and we always enjoy a good chat as we walk. I get enormous pleasure being in the open air, enjoying gentle exercise with nice people and good conversation. In fact I’m hoping to progress to doing longer walks in the very near future.”
The Ramblings team said, “Northumberland is a fabulous place and walking with Rob and the group has highlighted it’s rich history and wildlife. Walks like this prove that with support of groups like Alnwick Health Walks, whatever your level of fitness or ability, you can get out, get walking and enjoy the landscape.”
Robs walk with Clare Balding can be heard on Radio 4 at 6.07am on Saturday 30th May. The programme will be repeated at 3pm on the following Thursday, 4th June and will be available to listen to online for seven days at: www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/ramblings.
For information on Alnwick Health Walks please call Jon Monks on: 01665 605030.
Listen to the podcast via the link below
