"I'm afraid this child will be blind for life," said a consultant in 1933 to Mrs Jackson the mother of 16 months old Peter, a victim of measles. Mrs Jackson was the mother of four and pregnant. Her husband had a poor wage and liked his beer. When Peter was two he was sent to a home for blind babies to receive expert help.

In his recent biography Peter wrote, "Being catapulted into blindness left me desperate for familiar sounds. I wanted to hear the voices of my brother and two sisters." The food in the home was plain and the discipline strict, but Peter loved a teacher who played a piano and taught them happy songs about Jesus. The years rolled by and in 1949 'The Birmingham Authority' sponsored his attendance at the Royal National College at Shrewsbury, where he became an accomplished pianist playing pieces by Beethoven, The Beatles and Fats Waller!

Peter was determined to become a dance music pianist but one day a friend whom he admired as a brilliant pianist, invited him to a Christian meeting for fellows and girls on a Sunday afternoon. He went very reluctantly but was impressed by their simple, heartfelt prayers, to someone who was real to them. Soon after this he committed his life to Christ, and wrote, "I became overwhelmed by an intense feeling of being loved." Later that evening at a youth club he tried to play 'Twelfth Street Rag' but had to give up and explain, "I've had a wonderful experience of Jesus, I can't play that kind of music any more."

From that time on Peter Jackson has devoted his life to proclaiming the good news about the love of Jesus in dying for our sins and conquering the grave. Through his preaching and amazing piano playing, many have come to know Christ personally and been inspired by Peter's joyful spirit.

On one occasion a man who had offered to walk beside Peter began asking about how long he had been blind and what was his attitude to life. Peter assured him that he had no regrets about being blind because he had lived such a full and satisfying life as a Christian. "Thank You," said the man, "I was actually thinking about taking my life, but you have made me think again."

One of Peter's 8 grandchildren recently asked, "Grandad, have you had all your birthdays yet?!" We hope not!