We love Roundabout Talking News listeners’ stories and sat down with Neil Hilchey to hear his. A resident of Horsham for over 40 years, Neil became aware of Roundabout Talking News quite recently but is now a regular listener.
RTN: Hello Neil, thanks for talking to us today. Could you tell us a little bit about
yourself?
NH: Hello. I’ve lived in and around Horsham for most of my life. After school I went to work at Evershed & Cripps, a grocer on South Street that many of your listeners might remember. It’s now a branch of Santander Bank. After a spell at Budgen’s in Henfield, I started working for the RSPCA, first in the Causeway and later when the organisation moved to Southwater. I retired from the RSPCA after over 30 years, having worked in the purchasing and supply office for most of that time. I suppose you could say I’m a Horsham man.
RTN: Can you tell us about your sight loss?
NH: Of course. My circumstances are a little unusual. As far as the family could tell, I was born with glaucoma in my right eye. Perhaps it developed after birth – we don’t know. At any rate, it wasn’t diagnosed until I was five years old. This is quite rare – according to Glaucoma UK only around 1 in 10,000 children have glaucoma at birth or develop it in childhood. It’s one of the reasons why it’s so important for kids to have regular eye tests. But as I didn’t really know any difference, I learned to live with my condition.
Then, as an adult, I had an accident in the home which resulted in a complete retinal detachment in my other eye, leading to complete loss of vision on that side.
RTN: That must have been difficult to adjust to?
NH: I suppose it was, but you just have to get on with things, don’t you? I manage pretty well and although I need a bit of help with some things like shopping, I’m quite independent. I never married but I’m lucky to have great friends who support me – particularly my best friend Kate who is a huge help.
RTN: Tell us how you came to hear about Roundabout Talking News.
NH: To be honest, I don’t remember! I think it may have been recommended to me by someone at RNIB, but I’ve been listening regularly now for 2 or 3 years. I was surprised to learn that Roundabout has been operating in Horsham since 1978, and it’s totally free! I wish I had known about it beforehand, but there we are. Now I look forward to the memory stick arriving every week, so that I can catch up with what’s been going on locally.
RTN: Is there a part of the weekly Roundabout Talking News that you like to listen to in particular?
NH: I always listen to the news. It’s important for me to know what’s happening in and around Horsham, and you bring me the most important stories from the County Times and All About Horsham (AAH) magazine. For example, I was interested to hear about the Councils’ proposals to replace the cobbles in the Carfax, but I also enjoy hearing about events in the town, how Horsham FC are doing and that sort of thing. The information earlier this year about changes to the blood-testing system was really important, and I might not have known about it otherwise.
With the magazine section, I listen to which subjects are being covered, and then I dip in and out to the ones that interest me. With the player that your charity has provided (free of charge, I might add), it’s easy to skip forward and backward between stories.
I understand that Jean Griffin, who is the gardening expert on SUSY Radio (East Surrey & North Sussex) is a volunteer for Roundabout Talking News and may bring a gardening slot to your publication. That would be good.
RTN: You mentioned that you use the memory stick and player – do you ever listen in other ways?
NH: I know that you can listen to Roundabout Talking News online, by phone, or by Amazon Alexa as well as by receiving the memory stick. To be honest, I’m no good with technology so I’ll stay as I am. But it’s a good idea that you provide these other options, so that listeners have the choice.
RTN: Is there anything that you would like us to do differently?
NH: Not at all. I really look forward to listening to Roundabout every week and I would certainly recommend it to my friends – whether they are visually impaired or not. It’s a bit of a lifeline and a great way to stay a part of the local community.
RTN: Thanks, Neil.