Derbyshire Sight Loss Council: Meet the members

Matt Harrison

Matt is the Engagement Manager for the East Midlands and joined Sight Loss Councils in March 2023. Matt previously worked in the sector with My Sight Nottinghamshire, and The Beacon Centre.

Matt was diagnosed with Stargardt disease in 2005. He is now registered as severely-sight impaired.

Matt is a keen musician and photographer, with trees and landscapes his favourite subjects – mainly because they don’t move! He also enjoys watching football and a nice, spicy, curry.

Originally from Lancashire, Matt moved to Nottinghamshire in 1996, swapping a lecturing job in Moscow for a teaching role in Mansfield. He has never left the county since.

Matt is keen to ensure that blind and partially sighted people have the same opportunity to access services and the local community as their sighted peers. He is extremely excited to be responsible for establishing Sight Loss Councils throughout the region.

Dannie Gage

Dannie has been deaf blind since her late teens and has Usher Syndrome type 2. She lives in Derby with her husband and her pet dog Hattie. Dannie loves dog walking, board games and reading books.

Dannie used to be a paediatric nurse but has since co-founded a local peer support group for blind and partially sighted people in and around Derby. She also volunteers for RNIB, and runs the local technology hub.

Dannie says: “I am thoroughly excited to join Derbyshire Sight Loss Council. I am looking forward to making an active change in Derby and across Derbyshire to improve accessibility and quality of life for people with sight loss.”

Bill Best

Bill was registered as severely sight impaired in 2009 due to a condition called Geographic Atrophy.

Bill lives in North Derbyshire with his wife, while his children and grandchildren live in New Zealand. He is a man of many interests, from tandem bike riding and organising cask beer tours, to staying updated on current affairs and listening to audiobooks.

Bill has now retired following a successful career in social housing management and regeneration in both public and private sectors. In 2024, Bill became a Trustee of the Macular Society, completing a six-year tenure. Bill said:

“Since stepping down from the Macular Society, I have been looking for an opportunity to effectively use my lived experience of sight loss to help improve the quality of life for visually impaired people like me. Volunteering for Derbyshire Sight Loss Council is a calling I am deeply passionate about.”

Wendy Stain

Wendy lives in Derby with her retired guide dog, Clover. Wendy is registered blind due to Coloboma. She was born with some vision but lost it later in life.

In her spare time Wendy enjoys Latin American ballroom dancing, reading, astrology and creating music playlists.

Wendy is qualified as an interpersonal mediator and is currently between roles.

Wendy says “I am looking forward to joining Derbyshire Sight Loss Council because I am passionate about making change for blind and partially sighted people in my area.”

Helen Murphy

Helen has been registered blind since 2021 from a rare cancer. She lives in Derby with her white cat, Bridget.

In her spare time, Helen enjoys socialising, watching box sets and films and generally enjoying life.

Before losing her sight, Helen spent her career as a Senior Administrator for a large international company. This entailed working in the UK and abroad, which she thoroughly enjoyed.

Since losing her sight, Helen has become active within the visually impaired (VI) community. She is keen to initiate change to enable other blind and partially sighted people living locally to access the help and support they need. Helen said:

“Joining Derbyshire Sight Loss Council is very exciting. I feel that I can champion causes close to my heart to enable positive changes to the VI residents of Derbyshire.”

Andy Lewis

Andy was born in Derby and has lived there all his life, apart from attending St Vincent’s School for the Blind in Liverpool from the age of nine. Andy has Macular Dystrophy and Stargardt Disease.

Andy’s professional journey as a groundsman and maintenance technician at Derbyshire County Cricket Club lasted 33 years – a testament to his dedication and reliability. He concluded this chapter in December 2013.

Andy likes to keep fit and enjoys listening to sports on the radio and a good audiobook. Andy is married and has two grown-up children and two grandchildren.

Andy said: “I am excited to be joining Derbyshire Sight Loss Council and am keen to help improve facilities for visually impaired people in Derbyshire.”

Mike Winder

Mike lives in Derbyshire with guide dog Smokey and another dog called Ishka, a sweet old girl who snores very loudly!

Mike has Leber’s Optic Neuropathy and is registered as blind. He has approximately 90 percent sight loss, which mostly affects his central vision.

Mike enjoys tandem cycling and walking in the Peak District. Mike also has a keen interest in a variety of music (pre 2000), audiobooks and gardening.

Jules Neale

Coming soon!

Mike Bucknall

Coming soon!

Teresa Waldron

Coming soon!

Vee Monro

Coming soon!

Dale Durrant

Coming soon!