Castleton resident Frank Salt appears on BBC Radio Four to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 1920 march by the National League of the Blind

Frank Salt and his guide dog, Lewis

Castleton resident Frank Salt has appeared on BBC Radio Four to talk about the 100th anniversary of a march by members of the National League of the Blind, which ultimately led to The Blind Persons Act 1920.

The march was organised by North West members of the National League of the Blind, itself established in the 1890’s by Ben Purse, the first blind president of a Trade Union. They wanted recognition for their abilities, fair conditions of employment and state pensions for the blind who couldn’t work.

Mr Salt, himself blind, researched the march for four years for his Master of Philosophy degree at Manchester Metropolitan University, after first becoming aware of the momentous occasion – the first of its kind – as a mature student in 2003.

Demanding fair treatment, three groups of blind men set out from Manchester, Leeds and Newport in Wales, resulting in 250 marching to London and meet the Prime Minister, Lloyd George.

Many newspapers of the time expressed pity for the marchers – which was not what they wanted – whereas members of the public were supportive and expressed their admiration. 

Mr Salt said: “The men set off on Easter Monday, 5 April 1920, arriving in London Trafalgar Square on 25 April. On Friday 30 April a group of representatives led by Ben Purse had a meeting in 10 Downing Street with the Prime Minister, Lloyd George.

“The result of this campaign led to the Blind Persons Act 1920, which is still on the statute.”

Whilst the Blind Act did pass into law in September 1920, it wasn’t as far-reaching as the National League of the Blind had hoped. But for the first time, the particular needs of blind people were recognised in law and the number of ‘known’ blind people doubled in ten years.

In 1968, the league expanded to become the ‘National League of the Blind and Disabled’, which later merged with the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation to become part of the Community trade union.

You can listen to Mr Salt remember the 1920 march on BBC Radio Four’s In Touch show via BBC Sounds at around 13 minutes of the 18 minute segment:

• www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000h8ql