ROBIN has flown but his successor is full of praise for his achievements.

Robin Christoforou has retired after four years as chairman of local charity Talking Newspaper which provides a free service to blind and partially-sighted citizens around the district

But he will continue as one of the programme editors providing a weekly local news audio which is free to all residents with a visual impairment and includes a selection of letters and stories from the latest edition of the Herts Advertiser.

Incoming chairman, Rob Pearman, paid credit to the work of his predecessor: “Robin has led the move into new technology and has handed over a very sound operation run entirely by volunteers. We are committed now to reaching out to make sure that there is no-one in the community – from the far south to the far north of the district – who could benefit from our free service but is perhaps not yet aware of what we provide”.

St Albans District’s Talking Newspaper will be celebrating its 40th anniversary next year – a long history that includes support from BBC journalists such as Bill Hamilton as well as local celebrities including the late Eric Morecambe and Philip Madoc.

Anyone who could or would like to benefit from the service should contact Linda Randall at randalllinda@btinternet.com or call 01582 832275.