Hamilton man who founded talking newspaper is honoured with MBE

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A Lanarkshire man who founded and then dedicated nearly four decades to a valued talking newspaper service has been honoured with an MBE.Jim Stewart established Hamilton Sound in 1983 along with volunteer colleagues from the town’s Junior Chamber organisation, and went on to chair the busy group – which served up to 200 listeners in its busiest era – right up until last year.He says he was “gobsmacked” to receive an official letter informing him of the royal honour for his services to visually impaired people, and will now have a prestigious presentation ceremony to look forward to in the coming months.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android Jim became project manager and then chair of the town’s talking newspaper – vocalising the contents of the Hamilton Advertiser for blind and partially-sighted people – when he founded it in early 1983 alongside fellow volunteers.

They had researched the work of the similar Playback group in Glasgow and worked to recruit readers and technicians as well as finding premises, fundraising for equipment and arranging postal delivery of the finished cassette tapes.Silvertonhill resident Jim told of the many changes witnessed during his four decades with the group, ranging from huge technological advancements to moving accommodation; but how one particular feature always