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Union donates funds in memory of blind journalist

A union branch has made a charity donation in memory of a blind journalist who died last year at the age of 76.

The Derby and Burton branch of the National Union of Journalists has made a donation to help prevent blindness in Africa in memory of Mary Beilby, who died last August.

Mary, who lost her sight in her 40s, was a former regional press journalist who worked at the Derby Telegraph before going freelance and was made a member of honour by the NUJ for her lengthy involvement in the union branch.

The branch has made a donation of just over £30, which will help 200 people, to overseas disability charity CBM to distribute medicine to people in South Sudan who suffer river blindness caused by microscopic worms.

Branch chairman Kevin Palmer said: “Members felt this was something that Mary would have approved of.”