A bronze image of a dog sits proudly outside New Brighton’s Floral Pavilion Theatre – signifying Wallasey’s trailblazing work in the setting up of the world-renowned Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.

Last weekend, the new seafront theatre was the appropriate setting for celebrations to mark the 80th anniversary of Muriel Crooke and Rosamund Bond’s remarkable and far-sighted endeavours which laid the foundations for the guide dogs enterprise.

Amazingly they organised the training of the first four British guide dogs from a humble lock-up garage in the town.

To date the organisation has helped more than 29,000 blind people to achieve life-changing independence.

Scores of people from across Merseyside and beyond took part in a walk – with their dogs – from the site of a special plaque at The Cliff tower block, identifying Wallasey’s pioneering work with guide dogs, to the theatre.

Among those attending the celebrations were Joyce Dudley, from Wrexham, now in here 90s, who was one of the earliest people to benefit from the skill of renowned trainer Captain Liakhoff. Also there was Paralympic hopeful Laura Turnham from Liverpool who will ride tandem in next year’s London games.

Following the walk there was series of guide dogs demonstrations inside the theatre Muriel Crooke, a young German shepherd enthusiast from Wallasey, was instrumental in bringing guide dogs to Britain.

She found out about the pioneering work of American Dorothy Eustis, who had set up guide dog training schools in Switzerland and America during the inter- war years.

Mrs Eustis travelled widely, lecturing about her work and in 1930, articles began to appear in the British press.

Muriel Crooke and Rosamund Bond, a breeder and exhibitor of German shepherds, wrote to Mrs Eustis and the three women met in London on 23 September 1930.

Mrs Eustis said that she would lend a trainer to run a trial scheme in Britain near Miss Crooke's home in Wallasey.

A piece of land and a garage in Cardigan Road, New Brighton, were rented as a dog room and store. The trainer arrived in England on 1 July 1931 followed by seven German shepherd bitches that had been acquired from various sources.

The first class assembled in October 1931.