Liverpool Hospital’s oldest volunteer Alwyn Bridge, 89, comes in every week

With minimal vision, legally blind 89-year-old Alwyn Bridge doesn’t let that stop him from volunteering. For more than 22 years he has been helping out at the Liverpool Hospital staff library on a Monday.

Alwyn Bridge, 89, doesn’t let his blindness affect his contribution to the community. Picture: Melvyn Knipe

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They’re the women in red on a Monday.

The Liverpool Hospital staff library team deliberately wear red so legally blind volunteer Alwyn Bridge knows where they are.

It’s the bright hues of red and orange that stand out in Mr Bridge’s minimal vision.

The 89-year-old has been a volunteer at the hospital for more than 22 years and has not let his lack of vision impact his contribution to the community.

“I was bored after I left work,” he said.

“I’d worked for 50 years selling car parts for Ford.”

The Liverpool Hospital staff library team wear red on a Monday so legally blind volunteer Alwyn Bridge knows where they are at all times. Picture: Melvyn Knipe

Mr Bridge had always had bad eyes, even as a youngster, but things got worse in his late 60s.

It was only a few months after he started volunteering at the hospital that his vision diminished.

“These days I have no sight in my left eye and considerably less than five per cent in my right,” he said.

“I actually lost my vision when I was volunteering at the hospital, my retina came off and I couldn’t see anything — everything went dark. The lady I was volunteering with took me to emergency. I said to her at the time that I’d better resign from my volunteering gig.”

She told him the best thing he could do was “keep coming”. So he did.

He folds pamphlets — a staff member has created a cardboard template that guides him on where he needs to fold.

“Coming here volunteering keeps me alive. Life can get lonely ... the ladies here are my only friends,” Mr Bridge said.

“Everyone I know has moved away or fallen off the perch.”

More volunteers are needed. Call 8777 6225 for details.