Michael Palin star turn at Visually Impaired in Camden - but charity needs £7k to survive

Published: 21 April 2011
by PAVAN AMARA

MONTY Python actor Michael Palin was the star guest for a charity worried about funding cuts.

He spoke of his love for Camden at the monthly meeting on Tuesday of Visually Impaired in Camden, which offers advice on financial matters and the benefits of registering as a blind or partially sighted person.

Mr Palin described how he arrived in the borough. 

“In 1968, we moved to Oak Village in Gospel Oak, and the plan was to move once we had a family. But we never did,” he said.

“There were so many amazing jazz cafés and we used to take the kids for walks on the Heath. It was incomparable to anywhere else, and we’ve been in Camden ever since. 

“I’ve seen Camden go through so many changes, and it just gets better and better. I remember back in the day we saw a place for £8,500 and thought it was a little bit too much for us. But it’s now worth about £2million.”

Mr Palin’s talk at Swiss Cottage Community Centre provided a break for the charity from its worries about future funding.

Chairwoman Jean Rossiter said: “Camden Council won’t give us any money or extend funding for next year. That is very serious because many of our members would be isolated without us.”

Honorary member Keith Bird said: “We are incredibly worried about this organisation’s future, because we don’t have the council’s financial backing any more. All we get told by them is that they’ve got no money.  

“We are strapped for cash, and all we’re asking for is an extra £7,000. A lot of visually impaired people are going to be left very vulnerable if we don’t get help from somewhere.”

Pictured: Mr Palin with chairwoman Jean Rossiter.