He added that he had been impressed by Dr Reid’s “great book” on Keir Hardie, the founder of the modern Labour Party.
From 1967 to 1969, Gordon Brown underwent four operations which were to save his sight in his right eye.
But, in those days before laser treatment, deterioration of his left eye in the months before he sought medical help contributed to him losing his sight in his left eye.
In hospital, he made use of the very limited Talking Books Service which he has since helped to grow.
Biographer Tom Bower comments that Gordon Brown’s experience in hospital made him more serious and cemented his determination to fulfil weighty ambitions.
A biography by Paul Routledge testifies to accounts of the young Gordon Brown soon becoming not just highly respected by Edinburgh professors and his undergraduate peers as a gifted historian and student politician as chair of the Labour Club – of which Fred Reid had been president several years before – but a popular, party-throwing editor of the student magazine.
He was voted in by students to become only the second Edinburgh student to become the university’s rector, ahead of celebrities who usually won the management role.
* THE RNIB’s Talking Book Service offers a window to the world for more than 40,000 people a year with sight problems.
The books are recorded by professional actors and authors, and are delivered to subscribers’ doors. Call the RNIB helpline on 0303 123 9999 or email helpline@rnib.org.uk
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