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 Geographic Atrophy. He lives in North Derbyshire with his wife, whilst his children and grandchildren live in New Zealand. He enjoys tandem bike riding, organising cask beer tours, current affairs, and listening to audio books.

Bill is retired, following a career in social housing management and regeneration within both public and private sectors. In 2024 he completed a six year tenure as a Trustee of the Macular Society.

Bill says: “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. Being part of Derbyshire Sight Loss Council offers that opportunity”

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 due to a rare cancer. She lives in Derby with her white cat, Bridget. Helen loves to socialise, watch box sets and films, and generally enjoy life.
Prior to losing her sight, Helen was a senior administrator for a large international company. Her work took her not only across the UK but also to the south of France. During this time, she discovered a newfound love for her job, a passion that continues to inspire.
Since losing her sight, Helen has become active within the vision impaired community. She is keen to initiate change to enable her visually impaired peers to access their needed help and support.
Helen said: “Joining Derbyshire Sight Loss Council is very exciting. I feel 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!

Todd Biss

Coming soon!

Teresa Waldron

Coming soon!

Vee Monro

Coming soon!

Dale Durrant

Coming soon!