|
The Fenprobe Talking News service brings local news to blind and partially-sighted people across East Cambridgeshire, UK.Each week a team of volunteers gets together to record the latest stories from the Ely Standard. A Post Office concession ensures that the USB sticks with the news can be sent and returned throught the Post for free. The service is entirely free of charge and all registered listeners receive a free USB player, shown here, (which can also be used for RNIB talking books).We have over forty volunteers who regularly dedicate their time and the news recording is produced fifty-one weeks out of fifty-two, with a break at Christmas. We are a registered charity (CFB 279355R) and a member of the Talking Newspaper Association of the United Kingdom . The service benefits from the Post Office concession of free postage for blind people and other costs are met through grants and donations. Please take a look round the site to find out more about Fenprobe and how you can use our service. We provide our local news service in East Cambridgeshire and the neighbouring regions including Newmarket, Peterborough, Huntingdon, Soham, Stretham and, of course Ely, where we are based. |
Maureen Fresco
We are sad to tell you of the death of Maureen Fresco who, with her husband Harry, was an extremely generous supporter of Fenprobe for over forty years. Maureen joined the Fenprobe team of volunteers in 1981 - these were the days in which taped recordings were made in people's homes, and the Frescos soon had a row of fast copiers and piles of cassettes taking up their top landing. Moving to studio accomodation for the recording sessions finally freed up the space at home, but Maureen continued with reading and serving on the Fenprobe committee for many more years. Listeners will know that, remarkably, she continued to read regularly with the Littleport -Juniper Group until only a few months ago. Thank you for all you have done Maureen, you are much missed. 27th November 2024 Recording Resumes - 5th September 2024 The Fenprobe reading team is now back at the microphone once more with the Ely Standard of 5th September. Thank you for the kind messages from our listeners during our enforced "Summer Holiday"; we are glad to be recording for you once more! Problems with our players - an important message from the RNIB The RNIB has informed Fenprobe of problems with the charging pads of the new Accord players (pictured on this webpage) and advised us that the charging pads must no longer be used and should be replaced. This will take some time to implement, but once the new equipment has been received we shall begin to distribute it and collect in the old charging pads. Meanwhile it has been decided that Fenprobe groups will not record and distribute Ely Standard usb sticks over the Summer - you can expect the next recording to take place on 5th September. We do apologise for any disappointment this causes our regular listeners. Fenprobe listeners who have the older box shaped player can happily continue to use it meanwhile for RNIB Talking Books if they wish. Fenprobe Talking News AGM - Wednesday 17th April 2024 A small, but select, group attended the AGM. The commitee members were re-elected with the welcome addition of reader Chris Evans to the team. There are still two vacant seats on the committee if anyone is interested in joining us, and a new secretary needs to be recruited. The chairman was able to report that Fenprobe's finances are in a healthy state, and that the numbers of both readers and listeners had increased over the year. |