A blind woman who has dedicated her life to helping others with a visual impairment has been awarded County Durham’s highest honour.
Edna Ripley, 83, received the Chairman’s Medal for her commitment to social groups for the blind across County Durham.
Edna, who was born in Spennymoor and now lives in Ferryhill, has pigmentosa, which left her visually impaired from a young age. However, she went completely blind following the sudden death of her husband 32 years ago.
She set up Ferryhill Blind Club 28 years ago in a bid to make friends and create a weekly social group for others with a visual impairment.
Edna also organised day trips away and holidays for the members and coordinated volunteers to help make the trips accessible to as many people as possible.
Following the club’s success Edna also set up Spennymoor Blind Club and went on to help at Spennymoor Disabled Club. She also gave her time to help at Durham Blind Club and sat on a number of committees for the visually impaired.
Chairman of Durham County Council, Cllr John Lethbridge, awarded Edna the medal, telling her: “It’s my duty to find people in the county who deserve a medal. If you get a medal it is usually because you have done something out of the ordinary and it is my pleasure to award Edna with the Chairman’s Medal for all of her extraordinary work.”
She was nominated for the award by Freda Vitty from County Durham Talking Newspaper, who joined her at the ceremony along with colleagues, friends, her son Graeme and her daughter Alison.
South West Durham News covering news across County Durham.
