Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Bridget ‘tireless’ in her non-stop mission
Tributes for dogged macular disease campaigner
A retired teacher who dedicated her later years to supporting those with macular eye disease has died.
Bridget Russell, 88, suffered with the eye condition herself and was a founding member of the Canterbury Macular Support Group about nine years ago.
She died on April 28 at Littlebourne House Nursing Home.
Support group leader Mary Anderson said: “Bridget felt very strongly that there was not enough known about this sight condition, which affects so many elderly people.
“She also felt there was a need to establish a group to support, by social contact and more information, those who had this condition and those who cared for them.
“Despite suffering quite severe loss of central vision, Bridget worked tirelessly to establish the Canterbury group.
“She helped organise talks – on the condition and on other related subjects – arranging interesting visits and supporting local awareness events.
“These included a special visit to the Cathedral through her contact with the community engagement manager in learning and participation.”
Bridget, a former head of English at Simon Langton Girls’ Grammar School, was a keen supporter of a book club for the partially sighted, originally based in Sturry.
She was also instrumental in getting the club transferred to the Beaney in the city centre, which helped to attract more members.
Bridget spoke to different organisations in the area on behalf of the National Macular Society, volunteering as a befriender and receiving a long service award from the society in 2014.
Mary said: “We all appreciated her committed interest and support and will miss her greatly.” The funeral will be held at 2pm on Tuesday, at Barham Crematorium.