The Woman Who Has Spent 50 Years Giving the News a Voice

For half a century, Janet Graham has arrived week after week to do something simple but meaningful: read the news aloud for people who cannot easily read a newspaper themselves.

Janet began volunteering with the Redditch and Bromsgrove Talking Newspaper in October 1976. Fifty years later, she is still helping produce the weekly audio edition.

A Volunteer Commitment That Lasted Five Decades

Janet’s connection with the service began partly because of her family. Both her mother and mother-in-law were registered blind, making the importance of accessible information especially personal to her.

What began as a volunteer role in the 1970s gradually became a major part of her life. Over the years, the technology changed dramatically, but Janet’s commitment remained.

From Cassette Tapes to Digital Audio

When Janet first started, recordings were produced on cassette tapes. Today, the weekly newspaper is distributed on memory sticks and can also be accessed online through smart speakers.

The service provides more than a straightforward reading of local headlines. Each edition includes news, features, weather information, event listings, history, geography and poetry.

Hundreds of People Still Listen Every Week

The Talking Newspaper currently has more than 400 regular listeners. Its recordings are also shared with more than 20 care homes across North Worcestershire.

The service is free, and listeners can receive a player at no cost. Each week, a memory stick containing the latest edition is sent to them so they can listen at home.

More Than News on a Memory Stick

For many listeners, the service provides something beyond access to information. It helps them remain connected to events happening in their local community.

Staff at one care home described receiving the weekly recording as a source of comfort and independence. The familiar voices and local stories can make listeners feel connected to the wider community.

A Legacy Built One Week at a Time

As the service celebrates its 50th anniversary, Janet is due to receive a long-service certificate recognising her extraordinary commitment.

Her story is a reminder that making a difference does not always require a dramatic gesture. Sometimes it means simply showing up, week after week, for people who rely on you.

For Janet, five decades of volunteering have become much more than a role. It has become a lasting part of her life and a quiet way of helping hundreds of people stay connected.

Source: BBC News