An outreach worker, whose help with the blind has made a huge difference to many people’s lives, is retiring.

Sue Lewis, 60, of Manor Road, Wheathampstead, who travels across East and Central Herts to assess the needs of visually-impaired people in their homes, says she will be sad to leave her job with the Herts Society for the Blind (HSB).

She was presented with a bouquet of flowers at the charity’s annual Summer Social event where she said: “I love my job and find it very rewarding. Many of the people I visit have recently been registered visually-impaired, so need support and advice to help them cope with the devastation of sight loss. Deciding to retire was a difficult decision, but I’ve had ongoing health issues and need to slow down”.

During the decade she spent at the charity, Sue helped 55-year-old David Heath, from Stevenage, who is registered as blind. He commented: “Sue is brilliant and has given me self-confidence. When I first met Sue I was shaking and nervous. She encouraged me to become a volunteer for the charity and I now work teaching blind people how to use JAWS screen-reader software”.

HSB chief executive, Maria Sugenor, said: “Sue will be missed by all the staff, volunteers and the visually impaired people she helps. She has worked so hard over the last 10 years, working many evenings and weekends, to help local people with sight loss. Sue has made a massive difference to many, many people’s lives and I wish her all the best in her retirement.”

The charity requires more volunteers in Wheathampstead, St Albans, and Harpenden, to visit visually impaired people in their homes, as well as supporting patients in eye clinics and helping at the monthly Sight Information Point in St Albans Library.

For more information on volunteering, contact Vicky Palumbo on 01707 880544 or reception@hertsblind.com, or visit the HSB website at www.hertsblind.com