BLIND DAVE DOES DIY - ON THE RADIO

03-10-2007

In the 1950s "Educating Archie" made a radio star of a ventriloquist's dummy. If you think that's strange, stand by for a blind bloke teaching listeners to do DIY.

Black Country marathon runner and Stirrer blogger Dave Heeley has been snapped up by Insight Radio to do a weekly turn, helping listeners to do improve their carpentry.

The fact that Dave lost his sight as a teenager is no handicap - as regular readers will know he's just built a "penthouse" in the back garden of his house in West Bromwich.

You can admire his skills with a buzzsaw and a lathe by clicking here to watch "Personal Best - The Story of Blind Dave" on Stirrer TV - there's footage of the amazing Winnie the Pooh treehouse he built in his kids' bedroom.

Insight is a station aimed primarily at blind and partially sighted listeners, and although it's only available on FM in Glasgow, you can hear it on Sky Channel 0188 or listen via the internet at http://www.viponair.com/

Dave says: "I learnt all my skills at the Queen Alexandra College in Harborne and I owe a lot to them.

"The truth is that I've always been good with my hands and although what I do might look scary to sighted people I can only hurt myself if I do something stupid.

"I'm just glad to have the chance to pass on my skills to other people".

You can hear Dave at 11.10am on Thursdays.

And don't forget, Dave is running seven marathons in seven days on seven continents next April.

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