Valerie, 67, of Wharfedale Drive, Bridlington, who is blind, was accompanied at the ceremony by her three-year-old Labrador cross guide dog Bertie. She said as a Christian it was a moving experience being in York Minster and part of a larger group.

Before she retired Mrs Radford worked as a trainer on disabilities issues, as an aromatherapist, and as a fundraiser for the RNIB and Guide Dogs. She said, "I studied theology when I was younger, but never did anything further with my studies. Throughout my life, three different vicars have asked me if I'd ever thought about being a Reader – when the third one asked, I thought I'd better do something about it. I made a commitment to follow God when I was a teenager, and being licensed today shows you're never too old to serve God."

She will now take a greater part in services at St Nicholas church in Hornsea where she has worshipped for two years and gradually taken a helper role.

Her studies to become a reader started at Emannuel Church in Cardigan Road. Thanks to a theology degree she took at the London Bible College , now the London School of Theology, she did not have to undertake the whole of what is normally a three year course.

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