CERTIFICATES marking years of service to Canterbury's talking newspaper for the blind have been given to the Kentish Gazette.

For 36 years the newspaper has supplied items for its tapes so blind people in the area can keep up to date with what is happening within their community.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey, presented one certificate to Edwin Boorman, chairman of the Kent Messenger Group, and another to the paper's editor Bob Bounds.

The presentations took place at the annual meeting of Canterbury and District Recorder and chairman Denis Eldridge said the organisation owed a great debt of gratitude to the Kentish Gazette.

"Over the past 36 years it has supplied us with news and kept us informed," he said. "Many of you, when you could see, probably received the Gazette. We depend on clear reporting and factuality as we have to rely on the eyes of other people for other things."

Mr Eldridge, who said he was standing down as chairman, said the Recorder was also dependent on all its other volunteers who helped in any way.

Dr Carey said he was delighted to be at the meeting and that he admired blind and partially sighted people very much. He stressed; "To be deprived of one of the greatest gifts you can have would, for me, be a terrible thing. How people overcome this is amazing."

After the presentations Mr Boorman said he did not deserve the award. "All that happens is the paper comes out and Canterbury Recorder takes what it wants from it," he said. "I am embarrassed to have this but I love it all the same."

Mr Bounds said his certificate would take pride of place at the offices of the Gazette.

The Recorder's auditor Margaret Bowden also received a long service award from the group.