North Wales Society for the Blind

[Admin (Matt)]

A great history summary... http://www.nwsb.org.uk/about-us/history/

The North Wales Society for the Blind was established in 1882, by 1920 the Society had recruited five home teachers and procured its first building at 75 High Street, Bangor.


NWSB’s shop front at 224 High Street, Bangor

(The shop which later became Boots in the 70s, then later a shoe shop Stead and Simpsons, currently trading as Wok and Go following a refit).

In 1939 the Headquarters of the North Wales Society for the Blind was 204 High Street in Bangor. The following picture shows a very different shop front to what we are used to today! The society at this time focused on teaching skills such as cane work.

The North Wales Chronicle speaks of 25 blind evacuees who arrived in Bangor from Liverpool in the September of 1939, they were housed in Plas Menai Hostel in Bangor, and the article mentions the Society helping to provide Braille magazines and games.

In 1969 the society moved to its current location in 325 High Street, Bangor.


cc Casgliad Geoff Charles Collection, Charles, Geoff, 1909-2002.

The first four guide dog owners

In 1978 the first ever guide dog owner Mr Thomas ap Rees of Bangor sadly passed away, Mr ap Rees was a first world war veteran who was blinded during the War, He received the first ever guide dog in October 1931.

blind.pdf