they are driving and can’t look at the screen,” Kevin says, never failing to think about others who may grapple with gadgets.
Kevin stepped down from being full time Director of
HumanITy in 2009 after being elected Chairman of the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), the UK’s leading charity for supporting those with sight loss. With 3,000 staff, 4,000 volunteers and an annual turnover of £120 million, Kevin has an ambition to improve and grow the RNIB to provide more services for people in need. “I could work on it seven days a week – there’s masses to do. I have a passion for fundraising and truly believe that you can’t spend it unless you raise it,” says Kevin, who also chairs meetings, is an ambassador to the government, is helping to plan a special school and expand availability of Braille and talking books on behalf of the RNIB.
Admitting he has a low boredom threshold, Kevin is continually working on projects and has a contagious positivity and energy which would boost even the gloomiest of spirits. Looking like a small laptop with no screen, Kevin
carries a Braille computer with him at all times for moments of literary inspiration. His most recent accomplishment is publishing the first of his four novels Perpetua, a reworking of the New Testament in the context of the 21st century. Centring on an Afro-Caribbean woman
“I would say my novels are my greatest achievements; I’d like to be remembered for my books.”
claiming to be God, the book asks Christians to question what and why they believe.
“It is difficult for people to relate to the original Bible and the difficulties of rearing sheep and fishing. Modern life has changed and the book incorporates controversial subjects such as fertility clinics and female bishops,” explains Kevin, his imagination and desire to enable people to understand society and access all opportunities in life never ceasing to amaze. “I would say my novels are my greatest achievements. I’d like to be remembered for my books,” he adds.
Reviewing classical music whilst reading, checking emails whilst at meetings and singing whilst planning his next ingenious venture, Kevin is proof that men can multitask. He finds it near impossible to sit and do nothing, admitting that the only time he gets an occasional flash of irritation is by things not happening fast enough. “I just haven’t got enough time. Someone else in the world must be watching the average 24 ¾ hours of television a week that Margaret and I don’t watch,” says Kevin, his factual knowledge of our culture astounding. ”I am a target person; I use my inspirations to set my goals,” he adds, explaining his current aim of writing 1,500 words a day for his next novel – a figure which would horrify most of us. Kevin suddenly begins reading some of the 120- page poem from his computer, listing things which are unpredictable, insoluble, non-conforming and infinite in an attempt to encourage people not to rely only on what is conventional and scientific. “Accents, Angostura Bitters, Baked Alaska, black swans, bric-a-brac, chilli chocolate, causeways, cooked eggs, crumbs, dancing, dice, echoes, elastic, experiments, faith, fractals, gargoyles...,” he asserts excitedly. “... Geodes, Gandhi, ghosts, glass,
continued on next page >
The Kitchen Specialists that you can trust
The Kitchen People
www.kitchenpeople.co.uk
61 The High Street, Lindfield West Sussex RH16 2HN
Tel: 01444 484 868 Email:
paul@kitchenpeople.co.uk
SUSSEX LIVING FOR MID SUSSEX April 2011
17
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100