Basildon Round Table

Round table gives a new voice to John

From Basildon Echo, Wednesday 7th May 2008

THE chairman of Basildon's Round table gave a special parting gift as he retired.

Nicholas Hooper helped give a new voice to Stanford-le-Hope resident John Bye, with a series of fundraising events.

As a boy, Mr Bye was seriously injured when he was knocked off his bicycle.

His injuries not only saw him confined to a wheelchair for life, but also left him unable to speak. Despite persevering with his injuries over the years, Mr Bye remained unable to speak so his friend Lorna Day turned to the Round Table for help.

The group raised £2,000 through events including a fireworks display in Gloucester Park.

The money was used to get Mr Bye a Touchspeak, a computer which "speaks" the words he types in.