Peter The Great

It was with profound sadness that I learnt of the death of my friend Peter Craddock.

It was an April evening way back in 1978 when I first met Peter. The venue... Antrim Day Centre. The occasion.... for people to come together to discuss the way forward for Talking Newspapers across N. Ireland. The number attending that evening was few, but the energy and drive that came out of that Spring evening to create further Talking Newspaper locations was tangible.

With the International Year for Disabled People (IYDP) less than 3 years away, that night in April 1978 proved to be a very very important night. The visionary behind that unique event in Antrim was Peter Craddock , a senior lecturer in Library Studies at Queens University, Belfast.

In the autumn of 1978 the Blind Centre and the newly founded Association of Talking Newspapers in N. Ireland jointly hosted a training night for volunteers in the Conference Centre at Craigavon Area hospital. Peter was the first Hon Sec of the organisation better known as ATNNI. The first conference attracted a large crowd to hear Walter Love (BBC),Eugene Kelly (Fermanagh Talking News) Kate Smith and John Rosborough (both from Downtown Radio) share their skills with an enthusiastic audience.

IYDP was a launching pad for the creation of many Talking Newspapers especially in rural areas and Peter was always on hand to give advice and direction. He travelled endless miles to come alongside willing volunteers to encourage them in their formation and management of local Talking Newspapers.

During the 1980's Peter was invited to join the Board of the Talking Newspapers Assoc for the Blind (TNAUK) as the N. Ireland representative. He made numerous trips to their Headquarters in Heathfied, Sussex to ensure that the voice of N. Ireland Talking Newspapers was both heard and valued. Indeed it was in the 90`s that he was unanimously appointed Vice Chairman of TNAUK. He held this position for a number of years. Peter was instrumental in helping to embrace new technologyy to benefit TNAUK recipients throughout the UK and was a driving force for change within this national charity.

With his lifetime experience in Library services, along with his passion for communication services to those with sight loss, Peter in 1990 almost single handedly launched the international charity Share the Vison. For 7 years Peter steered this agency into playing such a vital role in connecting and networking with statutory, private sector and third sector agencies to raise standards and services to those print impaired. He enthused and challenged senior management in numerous charities which included the National Library for the Blind, Calibre, Torch Trust for the Blind, Ulsverscroft, RNIB, TNAUK and National Council of the Blind in Ireland.

In 1996, Peter, Isobel Holmes ( the Chair of ATNNI) and I, representing the Blind Centre, founded Focus Forums. This collaboration and joined up working by the three voluntary organisations gave birth to what turned out to be the lead conference and training body at local level for the next decade. Peter threw himself into the work of this new partnership. The first Focus Forums event was a 4 day series of seminars, workshops and exhibitions at Mahon's Hotel in Irvinestown. Some 153 delegates from across Ireland and the UK travelled to Co Fermanagh. Peter was excited to ensure that both speakers and delegates were well supported and cared for at what was the first of many regional seminars.

Although Peter travelled much, there was no place like home.... Castlerock. He just loved the North coast. Peter along with his late wife Jill were wonderful hosts. They often entertained me for lunch or dinner and together as we enjoyed good food and hearty conversations. For hours, over their dinner table, we would discuss, debate and plan how services to people with sight loss could be improved. Way long before ATNNI began, and that spring evening of `78, Peter, through the Coleraine Lions Club, was an active volunteer with Coleraine Talking Newspaper. He faithfully served more than 2 decades as Hon Sec and committee member at Coleraine Talking Newspaper.

Peter was great.... he was committed to serving people who were blind or partially sighted. He was a talented visionary, and his work lives on, as Talking Newspapers across UK and Ireland owe a great debt to his support, drive and enthusiasm. He was a gentleman. We who remain are much richer for having had the privilege of being friends with Peter the great.

Deane Houston