Wallasey's Guide Dogs still leading the way at 90

Guide Dogs was founded in Wallasey in 1931 and a range of special events are being lined up to celebrate their 90th birthday milestone on October 6.

A service at St James Church in New Brighton this Sunday (October 3) kicks off a month of celebrations, with a display about Guide Dogs at the church alongside guide dog owners.

Tracey Digby, Community Fundraising relationship manager, said: “There’s a real feeling of pride locally as we approach the 90th birthday - a sense of something very special having started here back in 1931.

“People have been organising all sorts of events and doing remarkable things for us - from the amazing mural art in New Brighton to the dedication of the bench and the display and service at St James. We have sponsored fundraising events, and many people doing something with a ‘90’ theme.

“After the disruption of lockdown and the very real sense of isolation felt by many, it’s wonderful to be back together again, having this remarkable anniversary to celebrate together. Here’s to another 90 years of Guide Dogs.”

As well as local supporters arranging sponsored events and tea parties, lights will shine from Liverpool’s Town Hall, St George’s Hall and the Cunard building to mark the anniversary October 6. Blackpool Tower will also be illuminated to mark the occasion a day later.

Flash, one of the first four guide dogs in the UK

It was 1931 when Muriel Crooke and Rosamund Bond started training dogs to support servicemen who had lost their sight in the First World War. They were inspired by assistance dog projects in America and Europe and started training German Shepherd dogs from a small lock up garage in Wallasey.

Those first four guide dogs – Flash, Folly, Meta and Judy – gave their new owners a sense of independence and the foundations were laid for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, which was formally launched three years later.

Training continued at The Cliff, Wallasey, for several years and links with the Wirral are still very strong.

And while there have been many changes over the years, Guide Dogs today is still changing lives; leading the world in breeding and training working dogs, creating unique and carefully matched partnerships that provide support to those with a vision impairment.

In 2019, Guide Dogs created 685 new guide dog partnerships, supported 4,800 partnerships in total and welcomed 1,135 potential guide dogs into the world.

I guide dog and its trainer

Covid restrictions played havoc with dog training and socialisation, causing huge problems for guide dog users, some of whom became isolated during the pandemic, but operations are back on track in time for the 90th anniversary.

While 70% of the charity’s funds are still spent on dogs, Guide Dogs has many other services designed to help the sight impaired live the life they choose, with technology playing its part.

In July this year, Guide Dogs launched an innovative scheme called Tech for All, which is giving specially enabled and accessible iPads and smartphones to children and young people with a vision impairment.

The aim is to complement online education outside of school and help vision impaired youngsters do things other young people tend to take for granted.

Campaigning is a key part of the charity’s role too, working with local authorities and public transport providers to ensure that blind and partially sighted people can access our towns.

Recently, the charity has been calling for better legislation around the use of electric scooters on pavements.

Guide Dog's team of volunteers help to make much of it what they do possible – from volunteer puppy raisers and dog fosterers to fundraisers and dog wellbeing assistants.

To find out more about Guide Dogs, visit guidedogs.org.uk