-- Reviews by the Famous and well Known
Those familiar with Jill Allen-King will know that this is her third book, bringing us up-to-date with what's happened in her life and, not least, over the period of the build-up to Covid, lockdown and beyond.
Her first book, published in 2010, her autobiography Just Jill, and her entertaining story of her first six guide dogs, Jill's Leading Ladies have already told much of her life story.
This addition, making up her trilogy, is a testament to Jill's tenacity and determination.
Not least, because she celebrated her 80th birthday just weeks before lockdown which would have made such celebrations impossible back in 2020, but also because of increasing ill-health, which makes writing so much of an uphill struggle.
Once again, Jill tells her story. It is very much a testament to Jill's life, to her campaigning zeal, to her tenacity in fighting for equality, access and justice for blind and partially sighted men and women, but also her personal commitment to doing something about it.
From improved access to transport, to tactile pavements, Jill has made her presence felt.
In this book we get a taste, not only of everyday life with a guide dog and overcoming the challenges of ageing, but also of humanity, caring about others, and never letting her blindness (she lost her remaining sight in 1964) get in the way of living life to the full.
Despite being highly critical of the government - not least in terms of those "sheltering" because of the pandemic - Sir David Amess, Jill's local MP, turned up to her birthday party! That is the reach of someone who, because of her life's work, has built both a reputation and an affection which shines through in this book.
There are so many things that I was unaware of until learning, through this book, of Jill's experience, her contacts and other committed volunteers who are making a difference to the lives of others. Take the Cinnamon Trust and volunteers who will help out when a guide dog's owner is incapacitated. What a splendid idea which builds on the many dog walking schemes that exist across the country.
Above all, this is a treasure trove for those who want to learn about the various campaigns that have taken place to bring about substantial improvements in the lives of blind and partially sighted men and women. Jill has been a part of so many of them, that I have begun to wonder just how she found time to write her books.
Who knows, there might yet be a further volume still to come.
David Blunkett, MP - Written the Foreword
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