What are we waiting for?

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People

And why am I wearing  a suit for the first  time in years?

These dogs wait quietly at the feet of their owners 

And can that really be me wearing a suit and tie?

Yesterday the charity Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, which trains dogs to act as the ears of their hard of hearing owners, held a special event at The Grange, Saunderton headquarters to celebrate their 30th anniversary.  Their patron, The Princess Royal, came to open a new puppy reception and to plant a celebration oak tree.

Click here for more pictures and details of the event

My wife and I felt honoured to be invited to the event, and even more delighted that we were to be introduced to Princess Anne as supporters of the charity. Not only did we have a chance to have a few words her, but on returning home we found there was a picture of me shaking HRH's hand on the Hearing Dog Blog!

We had an enjoyable day at the event, with the opportunity to talk to many people who are involved in various ways with the charity. I was very interested in taking to people from HMP Hewell, where prisoners are involved in socializing puppies, and with a county councillor about the way working with dogs can help the mentally ill and why it is sad that much of the accommodation available to people who are recovering from mental illness has rules forbidden pets.

These Kennel Runs were funded through generous
donations on behalf of "Franci" and "Kayleigh"
in memory of their owner Belinda

There were of course sad overtones from the visit. Twenty years ago our daughter Belindahad a breakdown  and the voluntary work she did for Hearing Dog charity was an important factor in her recovery to the point where she could return to full time work. In fact I am sure she would have been at the event if she had not died in 2001 and our support for the society is the result of her final wish that her estate should be used to help the charity.

Further pictures of The Grange