Tom Maley, who has died at the age of 84, was a remarkable figure whose professional life spanned education, computing, and braille, all while maintaining a vibrant social presence as a musician and raconteur. As the braille editor for the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), he played a pivotal role in ensuring the consistent application of braille codes and contributed significantly to the international development of braille standards.
Early Life and Blindness
Born in Paisley, Renfrewshire, to Mary and John Maley, a postman, Tom lost his sight before his third birthday due to retinoblastoma, an aggressive childhood tumour that necessitated the removal of both eyes. Despite this early challenge, blindness never dampened his curiosity or sense of fun. He refused to be cast as a heroic "overcomer," instead simply getting on with life at a brisk pace, often accompanied by a lively running commentary that enlivened any room.
Education and Musical Talent
Tom began playing the piano by ear at the age of five, using an instrument his parents had purchased. By eight, he received his first braille music book, mastering a second literacy that would remain central to his existence. He attended the Royal Blind School in Edinburgh and, against considerable odds, studied history and music at the University of Edinburgh in the early 1960s. In 1964, he moved to King's College, Cambridge, where he immersed himself in music while officially pursuing a teaching qualification.
International Work and Career
In 1965, Tom travelled to Kenya and Tanzania with the Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind, developing education programmes for visually impaired children. Returning to the UK in 1967, he taught history for four years at Dunrobin School in Sutherland before transitioning to West Midlands Gas as a computer programmer. This period marked a time when technology began offering new pathways to independence for blind individuals, particularly through braille production.
After a decade in that role, he joined the RNIB as braille editor. In this capacity, he supervised transcription across various publications, ensured the consistent application of braille codes, and contributed to the international advancement of braille standards. Additionally, he taught programming at the RNIB's Loughborough College in the late 1980s.
Retirement and Musical Pursuits
Following early retirement in 1993, Tom trained as a piano tuner and became a beloved piano teacher, instructing approximately 100 pupils over 15 years. He performed piano concertos with local orchestras, including works by Beethoven, Mozart, and Schumann. A favourite party trick, delivered with the confidence of someone adept at reading a room, involved playing the piano while deciphering a braille score with his toes.
Personal Life and Legacy
At home, Tom's days were filled with music, books, and the companionship of six guide dogs and several Siamese cats over the years. He met his wife in 1997 at the Music Summer School in Hereford, where he was on the piano teachers' course. They married in 2002. Tom is survived by his wife, his son Sebastian from a previous marriage that ended in divorce, and his granddaughters, Ruby and Charlotte.
Tom Maley's life was a testament to resilience, creativity, and dedication, leaving a lasting impact on braille standards and the lives of those he taught and entertained.
