Doreen’s wonderful legacy for people with sight loss
Doreen Gough, from Leeds, has left the most wonderful gift in her Will to the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).
Her generous gift of just under £450,000 will benefit RNIB’s flagship Talking Books service, which meant a lot to Doreen and her husband Derek.
Derek had sight loss and was a keen user of RNIB’s Talking Books service.
Derek felt a bit lost when his sight started to deteriorate and he was delighted when he discovered RNIB’s Talking Books.
Derek passed away a long time before Doreen and she wanted to acknowledge how RNIB had helped her husband to enjoy reading again by donating her whole estate to the charity.
A lovely couple who enjoyed reading
The money was presented to RNIB at the charity’s Talking Books recording studio by Doreen’s long-standing friend and executor of her estate, Reverend Diane Lofthouse.
“Derek and Doreen were such a lovely couple”, says Diane. “They loved each other’s company and especially enjoyed reading. Doreen told me how Derek felt a bit lost when his sight started to deteriorate and that he was delighted when he discovered RNIB’s Talking Books.
“Doreen always remembered how Talking Books helped Derek enjoy reading again and the couple would often listen to a book together. It was because of this that Doreen made the decision to donate her estate to RNIB and I am so pleased to fulfil her final wish. I hope that this money will give other people with sight loss the chance to enjoy many books for years to come.”
During the visit to RNIB’s Talking Books studio, Diane and her daughter Angela also had the opportunity to narrate a children’s book.
The book is called Omar, the Bees and Me by author Helen Mortimer and is already part of RNIB’s Talking Books library, with a dedication to Derek and Doreen at the start.
The life-changing impact of gifts in Wills
RNIB’s Head of Legacy Fundraising, Lorna McPherson-Reed said: “Over one third of our work is only made possible thanks to the generosity and kindness of people like Doreen, who choose to leave gifts in their Will.
“We are so grateful to Doreen for this wonderful donation. RNIB believes no child or adult should be held back due to their sight loss and knows how reading helps build the skills and confidence needed to participate fully in life.”
Doreen’s legacy in action
The generous legacy will be used to fund three new RNIB recording studio pods and one of these pods will be named ‘The Gough Pod’ in Doreen and Derek’s memory.
The money will also go towards an ambitious public library engagement project, aimed at raising awareness of RNIB’s library of 40,000 books, and how they can be accessed digitally, within public libraries across the UK.
Leaving a gift in your Will to RNIB
A gift in your Will could help support blind and partially sighted people of all ages build the skills they need – for life.
Anyone can pass on something wonderful like Doreen by leaving a gift in their Will, and even a small amount can make a huge impact.
Find out more by visiting www.rnib.org.uk/legacy or email giftsinwills@rnib.org.uk
