A former Edinburgh primary school teacher with major sight loss is to tell inspiring stories to children after getting a devastating eye disorder diagnosis.
Anne Dignan, 68, Edinburgh resident was diagnosed with macular degeneration in her 40s after seeing ‘a major difference’ in her eyesight which forced her into an early medical retirement.
‘Tales of Gallus Women’ will feature Anne and six other women telling anecdotes on March 11 from the far north of Scotland to shores of East Lothian after discovering the group ‘Burgh Blatherers.’
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Anne, born in Stockbridge and now living in Portobello, said: “I rely on large print or listening and I think it is absolutely amazing to be able to do this but it’s also taken a lot of dogged determination.
“It’s not easy, there are a lot of obstacles. I think it’s an honour and a privilege because of my passion and commitment to storytelling.
“The rewards that I receive from being able to share these stories is quite magical, something magical happens when you are in front of people.”
Anne’s condition is incurable and she unfortunately gained the condition at a lot younger age than other people who have the illness.
She enjoyed telling stories to people of all ages during her time as a teacher and joined the Burgh Blatherers four years ago after being told about the group by a friend.
To tell stories to her audience, Anne has to have someone convey the book to her so then she can write it down in large text on paper or she can scan the manuscript with a large magnification monitor.
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Anne, herself, has won one of the storytelling movement's most prestigious awards, the Tall Tales Oscars. "I was up against several professional contenders who all had many, many years of experience. I am highly delighted, and proud of the award.
Her own tale this Saturday is part of the RNIB's new campaign to raise awareness and people's understanding of sight loss and will be the true story of woman born into a Gaelic-speaking community on Skye in 1821. Anne said: "My story is self-penned and extensively researched," she enthuses. "It’s about Mairi Mohr Nan Oran, or 'Great Mary of the Stories' as she became famously known by her native Gaelic-speaking community.
Anne continued: “She was instrumental in rallying people to effect a change in the legislation affecting crofters, the Crofters Holdings Act, which secured land tenure for crofters who had who had undergone the ravages of the later Highland Clearances.”
'Tales of Gallus Women' will take place in Bellfield Community Hub in Portobello on Saturday, March 11, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. Tickets are from £8-£10 available on the door or from Eventbrite - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/472783838187.
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