Jill Allen King: The Activist Transforming Lives of the Blind | Pride of Britain 2022

After losing her sight on her wedding day, Jill has dedicated the last 50 years to improving the lives of blind and partially-sighted people in the UK and Europe. Born fully sighted in 1940, she lost one eye as a baby due to measles and became completely blind at 24 from glaucoma. When Jill became pregnant shortly after losing her sight, doctors pressured her to have an abortion, deeming her unfit as a mother. She chose to keep the baby but later agreed to sterilisation. For seven years, she was nearly housebound until she got her first guide dog, Topsy, in 1972 and joined the National Federation of the Blind. Jill campaigned for guide dog access in public spaces, leading to significant improvements, including entry to shops and cinemas. She initiated tactile paving at crossings, earning an MBE in 1983 and an OBE in 2011. At 82, Jill continues to advocate for blind rights, having given hundreds of talks and raised funds for blindness charities. She states, “I want to sit back and relax, but there is still so much to campaign for.” Subscribe to our YouTube channel:    / @prideofbritainawards   Follow us on X: https://x.com/PrideOfBritain Like us on Facebook:   / prideofbritain   Follow us on Instagram:   / prideofbritain   Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@prideofbritai... For more content go to: https://www.prideofbritain.com/ #prideofbritain #prideofbritainawards