Leah doesn't want 100th birthday presents, just her County Times

But for one Welshpool woman who has a milestone birthday approaching next month, getting her fix of local Powys news has become even more vital.

A few years ago, 99-year-old Leah Smith’s eyesight began to decline and she was eventually diagnosed with macular degeneration – a condition that although does not cause total blindness, can make everyday tasks like reading and recognising faces difficult.

Leah’s eyesight deteriorated so much that she was no longer able to enjoy her passion of reading – which includes thoroughly combing the pages of the County Times each week.

That’s where the Powys Talking Newspaper comes in – an audio service provided by a group of dedicated volunteers that has delivered a local news service to blind and partially-sighted people in the county since the 1970s.

Leah, who turns 100 on May 12, still lives in her own house in the Erw Wen area of Welshpool. But rather than presents or flowers to mark the landmark achievement, her family decided to get her something she would really want. So, they are fundraising for the Powys Talking Newspaper, which they say has provided a lifeline to Leah since her eyesight began to fail, and especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“She said that she doesn’t want any cards or gifts this year as she really has all she wants. So we thought that we’d try and raise some money for a local charity that means so much to her instead,” said granddaughter Hannah Moore.

“Since being diagnosed with macular degeneration in the last couple of years, her eyesight has deteriorated so much that she can no longer enjoy her passion of reading.

“Here steps in the Powys Talking Newspaper which allows her to keep up to date with all local news by audio, so she doesn’t miss a trick.

“The Powys Talking Newspaper has been a wonderful charity, enabling her to make sure she's all caught up on the local Welshpool news. It really has helped her to cope with her eyesight impairment.

“We can only imagine the amount of local people they are helping in their day to day lives.

“It would be great to raise some money for them and, as nan has been in Welshpool for nearly 100 years, it would mean so much for her to give back to the local community.”

The Powys Talking Newspaper was prepared for many years by Peter England. Picture: Phil Blagg

Born in Welshpool on May 12, 1922, Leah grew up as Leah Sheriff, attending Christchurch Primary School, which no longer exists.

After school she worked in the laundry in Welshpool, before moving to the sawmills (now Boys and Boden) during the Second World War and later becoming a dinner lady at the high school, where she worked until her retirement.

It was during the war that she met and married Wilfred Smith; the couple having seven children and spending a wonderful 52 years of marriage together until Wilfred’s death. The couple did celebrate their golden wedding anniversary in 1994 with a party attended by friends and family from near and far.

Family, including her children, grandchildren and a growing brood of great-grandchildren, will be coming together from all over the UK, including Welshpool, Yorkshire, south Wales and even two living in Australia, for the big birthday in a few weeks.

“She's been reading the County Times as far back as I can remember,” said Hannah, who at 30 is one of the youngest grandchildren.

“Her quote is generally that her life is her family and she has so much love for each and every member.”

Although her eyesight has failed Leah in recent years, not much else seems to have slowed her down. “Even up to her 80s she was a part of the rambling club in Welshpool, she loved walking and fondly speaks of rambling the Yorkshire Moors,” added Hannah.

“She still regularly takes the bus on her own from her house to the town centre and talks to everyone who will listen.

“She has also, until the pandemic hit, been a long-time pastoral visitor of the nursing homes in Welshpool, visiting people in the Hermitage and Llys Hafren to keep them company and entertained. “We often joked that she was older than a lot of them in there.

“She still lives in her own house in Erw Wen, which she has been in for nearly 60 years. Prior to this she lived in Gungrog Road and up Mount Street when she was very little.”

Originally called the Montgomeryshire Talking Newspaper when it was established in the autumn of 1971 by headteacher of Meifod Primary School, Gareth Jenkins, Powys was later added to the title when the paper widened its scope, with Peter England taking over after Gareth’s death.

Recording takes place every week on a Friday at a studio at the Armoury (now Ponthafren) in Welshpool. The County Times, as well as the Brecon & Radnor Express, are edited before both papers are read by two volunteers who are recorded by technicians onto a master memory stick. This is then transferred to enough memory sticks to fill pouches which are despatched by the Post Office to the Powys Talking Newspaper’s listeners – which number around 80 people across the county.

The only time the service, which celebrated its own milestone 50th birthday last year, was unable to function was during the first lockdown from March to December, 2020. In November, 2020, committee members and volunteers decided to restart recordings.

Listeners return their pouches via the Post Office back to the studio ready for the next editions of the papers.

Leah’s family have raised more than £600 so far and if you’d like to add to the cause and help her and other blind or partially-sighted people keep up to date with all the goings on covered by the County Times, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/leah-smith-turns-100.