Tynedale Talking Newspaper

Tynedale Talking Newspaper Tynedale Talking Newspaper.

Audio edition of the weekly Hexham Courant and, on monthly rotation, The Northumbrian magazine and its own TT Magazine produced by volunteers.

A fantastic fundraising and awareness result from Hexham Racecourse on Derby Day, Saturday 6 June, at which Mike Spencer...
08/06/2026

A fantastic fundraising and awareness result from Hexham Racecourse on Derby Day, Saturday 6 June, at which Mike Spencer led a team of four TTN volunteers (Loraine, Bridget and Mike B).

Mike reports that "the staff in the office and the security team were all extremely welcoming and helpful and allowed us to set up in an excellent position near the exits. It was particularly enjoyable to be able to meet the departing racegoers, who were convivial and very willing to dip into their loose change (those who hadn’t lost it all already!) and contribute to our charity."

Sincere thanks to Mike and the team for a job well done and some very useful income to TTN.

Another lovely example of just what a small world it is. The TTN team (myself, my wife Jill, Loraine Oliver and Jane Kev...
13/05/2026

Another lovely example of just what a small world it is. The TTN team (myself, my wife Jill, Loraine Oliver and Jane Kevan) turned up at Newcastle Cathedral's excellent Cafe 16 at Newcastle Cathedral to be part of the Vision Newcastle event.

Having set up our stall, I went over to the Alzheimer's Society stand to introduce myself, only to be asked "do you play in a band?" Turns out that Claire Spencer recognised me from Prudhoe Community Band in which her husband Andy sits behind me making a euphonium-size noise in my right ear.

As TTN Chair, I've written here before that I believe TTN's output could play a valuable role in health and wellbeing messages to (and from) a variety of communities, and I'm really pleased to say that Claire will soon be interviewed by TTN's own Jane Kevan for a segment on the work of the Alzheimer's Society in our region, the help available, and how to access it.

It was a day for 'joining the dots' at the Karbon Homes Silver Friends event in Haltwhistle this week as discussions wit...
02/05/2026

It was a day for 'joining the dots' at the Karbon Homes Silver Friends event in Haltwhistle this week as discussions with other attendees brought home the potential for health, safety and wellbeing messages within our audio output for those who find reading the printed word difficult or impossible.

One particularly poignant example was offered by radiographer Erika Ridley of Newcastle Breast Screening Service, who told us of some recipients of appointment letters who couldn't read the content and only recognised what the letter was about from the logo.

And with unpleasant financial scams on the rise, audio messaging about being 'scam aware' could also help those who can't read the excellent material produced by Age UK on display at the event.

It's becoming evident that while TTN's roots are in creation of audio materials for the visually impaired, there are many other conditions, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's that make reading print difficult, and we're actively looking to develop and strengthen relationships with support organisations. While we can legally only send USB sticks out via Royal Mail to the registered visually impaired, the advent of easy streaming to computer, tablet or smart speaker from the TTN website makes our content more widely available than ever before.

Who knows, perhaps we could even include a mention of literacy services that might encourage the recipient of the breast screening letter to finally discover the joy of reading that she missed out on at school.

Finally, a word of acknowledgement and sincere thanks for recent personal donations from SF, JM, AR, MF and PB, and to Broomhaugh and Ovington Parish Councils.

Photo shows (L to R): TTN Chair Tony Newton, TTN Recording Engineer Alan Ross, Kathryn Samson of Haltwhistle Medical Group, Erika Ridley of Newcastle upon Tyne Breast Screening Service. Thanks to Jennifer Burn of Age UK for the photo.

It was a real pleasure for Loraine Oliver and me to address Isobel Johnson's Macular Society Tynedale Support Group toda...
11/03/2026

It was a real pleasure for Loraine Oliver and me to address Isobel Johnson's Macular Society Tynedale Support Group today, bringing in various props including our free MP3 players, demo USB sticks and a tablet to demonstrate how easy our streaming facility is to access. The tea and biscuits were good too...

I've known Isobel since we were Public Governors together at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, inspecting wards and tasting hospital food the length and breadth of the county.

The Macular Society Tynedale Support Group meets monthly at Corbridge Parish Hall, and it always comes a surprise to discover that people who would really benefit from Tynedale Talking Newspaper's output just don't know of our existence- and when they find out, they're hugely enthusiastic about receiving it.

And those that did already use our service offered some interesting ideas and insights that will feed into our next committee meeting.

What this means in practice is that we have to recognise that outreach has to be an ongoing, planned and repeated process - not just among the visually impaired community which is our primary audience, but to other groups who may have difficulty reading the printed page, for whatever reason.

You can stream audio versions of the Hexham Courant, Northumbrian and 'Tynedale Talking' magazine from ttnweb.uk with no signups, registrations or other hurdles- the only things we'd love to know are how and why you landed on our doorstep.

A really useful session this morning at Hexham Community Centre run by Karbon Homes Silver Friends. Met representatives ...
24/02/2026

A really useful session this morning at Hexham Community Centre run by Karbon Homes Silver Friends. Met representatives of several local charities and good causes with whom TTN shares common purpose on a number of fronts, and so pleased to see several now following us as a direct result of our chats over bacon rolls, cake and coffee.

As so often, was interested to note how so many people seem not to know about TTN, despite our 42 year history, and a salutory reminder that staff, managers, carers and listeners change and churn, and our outreach work has to continue year in, year out.

A reminder too that visual impairment is not the only reason for a Talking Newspaper's existence- plenty of other groups who can't read the printed word for one reason or another, and shows the value of our streaming service of the The Hexham Courant, Northumbrian magazine and our own in-house audio production, 'Tynedale Talking'- all accessible without registration or membership hurdles at www.ttnweb.uk and on smart speaker using the Alexa 'Talking Newspaper' skill.

Three particularly useful outcomes from my perspective as TTN Chair:
1... an impressive young woman who could have a very bright future in third sector governance and shows that 'the next generation' is interested and enthused by what we do
2... discovery of carer group coffee mornings across the region which TTN could attend and address
3... agreement in principle to use our audio output to advise the visually impaired about how not to fall for the scams that are the bane of today's existence

Well done, Silver Friends and Karbon Homes, for mounting such a worthwhile event and bringing community threads together.

22/02/2026

Delighted to welcome three new voices to the TTN 'Northumbrian' Reading Team this issue, which gives us a bit more resilience when people are away or otherwise engaged. Last month, Phil Hodes joined the team- which really closed a loop as we were at school together in London some 50 years ago- and only through a chance meeting at Newcastle Central Station thanks to a delayed train did we discover that we were both living in the North East. And true to everything I've said about the power of networks, Phil told a friend of his about what he was doing with TTN, and that friend also then volunteered- so listeners will also now hear the dulcet tones of BBC sports reporter Mark Tulip. And we also welcome another experienced voice artist in the form of Caroline Watson, who contacted us through our page. Welcome aboard all, and thank you so much for lending your time and your voices to TTN.

TTN will be taking part in the 'Silver Friends' event at Hexham Community Centre, Tue, 24 Feb, 1015-1215. Come and say h...
22/02/2026

TTN will be taking part in the 'Silver Friends' event at Hexham Community Centre, Tue, 24 Feb, 1015-1215. Come and say hello, meet some of the faces behind the voices and find out what we can offer the visually impaired and others who have trouble reading print.

19/01/2026

Another lovely testimonial that we've agreed to keep anonymous and which came about this month as the result of a chance conversation:

"I would like to thank Tynedale Talking Newspaper for the service they give as my grandmother used the service for many years after suffering from near full sight loss due to measles in her early 20’s. The talking newspaper made her feel connected to the area and included more than you can know and it allowed her to hear about her grandchildren’s sporting accomplishments and the weddings and new arrivals of people she knew when she listened to your readings of the Hexham Courant. Thank you for supplying my grandmother a window onto the local world she never would have had without your service." P

12/01/2026

Jane Kevan, editor of our 'Tynedale Talking' magazine, shares this note received from one of our listeners in December about a particularly amusing article- if you know anyone who is visually impaired and would like an occasional good belly laugh as well as interesting material, please do get in touch:

"Dear Jane, I'd like to register a strong complaint about all Sheila's giggling. Because it resulted in my riser recliner shaking fit to bust and creating an awful racket, because the giggling was contagious, & I was giggling so hard myself that every joint and spring in my chair was really put to the test! I'm sure my flat's neighbours must have wondered what on earth was going on! Thank you Sheila & special thanks to you Jane for leaving the giggles in!!;) :) keep up the good work all - it's really appreciated :). A"

09/01/2026

Delighted to report that TTN has received a donation from Riding Mill Parish Council. Very much appreciated and funds will be put to good use.

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