Blind piano tuner's 50 years with dogs

Eddie Wilkins, who lives in Copthorne in Shrewsbury, has been handed honorary life membership of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association in recognition of the milestone.

A ceremony was held for him at the Hampton by Hilton Hotel on the outskirts of Shrewsbury to recognise his commitment to the charity as a guide dog owner and a volunteer since he first started using the trained dogs in 1962.

Now partnered by his sixth guide dog Benton, Mr Wilkins has worked as a fundraiser and speaker for the charity.

He said he was delighted with the honour from charity bosses.

"It went very well and it was quite a surprise," he said. "It is a wonderful organisation. I love talking to children about it because they ask such lovely questions."

Mr Wilkins, who lost his sight in his teenage years, said it was far harder for blind people to get by without a guide dog in modern times than back in the 1960s.

"It is much more difficult now than then. If you walk down a busy road with heavy lorries going by, you can't hear people walking towards you," he said.

He added that he was grateful to have been able to see during the early part of his life.

"It is a good thing because I know what things look like. If you have seen, you can make a mental picture," he said.

"Some people say it is better to be born blind, but I don't agree."

Mr Wilkins still keeps himself busy by working as a piano tuner, as well as producing CDs of classical music which are sold to raise money for Guide Dogs.

He said that despite what some people might believe, being blind did not necessarily give him an advantage as a piano tuner.