The charity produces weekly tape recordings of Lynn News stories for distribution to about 130 blind and partially-sighted people in West Norfolk.

Matthew Fysh (15), of North Lynn, and Charlie Gilbert (10), of South Wootton, have been nominated for an award by the chairman, Mr Michael Forster.

He said: “Their efforts are highly commendable and greatly appreciated by our committee.”

They, along with 14 other Super Kids finalists, will discover if they are winners at an awards ceremony at Lynn Town Hall on Tuesday night.

MATTHEW FYSH

Matthew Fysh helps with the unpacking of returned tapes, removing address cards, sorting the cards into their various categories, cleaning the tapes ready for reuse, inserting the address cards into the wallets from the current list of listeners and making up a bundle of address cards for use the next week.

Mr Forster said: “It’s a mundane and somewhat laborious task which Matthew has cheerfully and efficiently carried out for the last seven to eight years. And he has hardly missed a session in that time.”

On occasions, when there had been a shortage of helpers, Matthew had done the sorting and cleaning almost single-handedly.

He has also been prepared to stand on street corners helping his mum collect donations for the talking newspaper.

Matthew has also been involved in community work as an Explorer Scout and through the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. He is a helper with cub scouts and has signed up for this year’s fundraising Great East Anglian Run.

CHARLIE GILBERT



Charlie Gilbert has been supporting the talking newspaper with his dad for the past four years, helping with the checking, packing and dispatching of the weekly tapes.

Each of the tapes has to be checked on both sides for clear speech to ensure that no listener receives a blank tape or substandard recording.

Mr Forster said: “It is a tedious and repetitive task, not usually undertaken cheerfully and efficiently by a lad of his age on a regular basis. Charlie has not missed many sessions in the last four years.”

Charlie’s father, Tim, said his son enjoyed his work with the talking newspaper and was pleased to be doing something which helped others.

His other spare time activities are mostly sport-related.

“He is a member of South Wootton Junior School football and cricket teams and plays for the Woottons under-11 team. He is an avid Arsenal supporter, like his dad and grandad, and enjoys playing his many football computer games,” said Mr Gilbert.

Charlie is also keen on all forms of motor sport, in particular Formula One, MotoGP and World Superbikes, and recently started learning to play the electric guitar.