THE blind man who became the first person to receive a guide dog from Bolton's famous training centre was back there at the weekend to round off National Guide Dog Week.

Bolton man Bill Flanagan, aged 88, is a real champion of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Training Centre in Lowndes Street because he devoted many years of his life as an unpaid ambassador telling people of the vital work they do.

Bill is the president of the Bolton branch of the Guide Dogs for the Blind organisation.

He visited hundreds of schools and local organisations tirelessly raising awareness and cash for the charity over the years.

He no longer has a guide dog himself, because his deteriorating health does not allow him to look after one.

But Mr Flanagan, who went blind in 1935 after accidentally rubbing acid in his eyes at work, has had five guide dogs since 1953.

Florrie, Mr Flanagan's 85-year-old wife, said they were pleased to be at the special day.

The couple have always enjoyed having guide dogs - especially their last dog called Harvey.

"Harvey was the most loving dog that you have ever come across," she said.

But the party would not have been complete without man's best friend, and Mrs Ethel Linney - who received her first guide dog two years after Mr Flanagan in 1955 - joined in the celebrations together with her dog Rose.

Rose, a labrador retriever cross, has only just moved from Mrs Linney's back to the "puppy trainer" who first looked after her.

"Being here today brings back nice memories," said Mrs Linney as she tucked into a celebratory lunch at the centre.

She said that having a guide dog "gives you freedom", but ill-health forced her to return Rose to puppy trainer Brenda Leigh at Upton on the Wirral.

Mrs Leigh said: "Rose left us seven years ago but she knew where she was when she came home.

"She has now retired but she will come with me to hospices and hospitals."

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