LONG standing stalwarts of talking newspaper - the Craven Cassette - have hung up their microphones.

Brenda and Graham Huntrods have decided to call it a day after reading the Craven Herald for more than 20 years and providing free audio tapes for blind and partially sighted listeners.

But, Brenda Oates has racked up even more years, having started with the charity soon after it was formed, in 1978.

Her team originally recorded at Skipton’s Little Theatre the day after the paper came out, on Friday evenings.

In more recent years, the weekly recordings have taken place in readers’ homes, and wallet preparation takes place at St Andrew’s Church in Newmarket Street.

One of Brenda’s most daunting tasks was when digital recording started around 2006, when she had to read in front of one of her former primary school pupils from 1965.

It was role reversal from 1965, but Richard Breare was delighted to meet her again after no less than four decades, remembering her with fondness as a kind and helpful teacher.

Richard is now chairman of the charity that produces the recordings.

Two other long term readers are also due to retire this year.

The recent addition of four new teams from Skipton Building Society’s IT department has given the retirees the opportunity to leave without putting strain on the organisation.

Margaret Astin has been leading the wallet preparation team for about ten years, after previously being a helper and a reader.

Betty Jolly, her team mate, also will be giving up after years of devoted service.

The charity has one new volunteer, but is keen to attract more to help carry out wallet preparation.

Wallet preparation takes place on Thursdays at St Andrews Church, Newmarket Street, and takes about half an hour.

Richard said: “If you can read this you are not a potential listener for the charity – but you may know someone who is. Think about family and friends, who do you know with failing sigh - all our listeners get considerable pleasure from listening to the recordings of The Craven Herald and also the monthly Dalesman magazine and recently added Cumbria magazine.”

Anyone able to help can email Richard Breare at: r.breare@btopenworld.com or by telephone on 01756 794298.

or Peter Longbottom on 01756 792837.