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During the 1960s, she became heavily involved in community work. By 1971, she was married with four children and still living in
Tuebrook. She knew that there were many adults like her who had not had the chance to learn to read and write properly and decided to help these semi-literate people who
56:. She largely missed out on formal education and could not read until she was in her mid‑teens. At fourteen, she started working as a clerk in an insurance company. Her first employer paid for her to go to night school. Then she worked at a sewing factory and as a receptionist/telephonist.
75:, the UK's first newspaper for adults with reading difficulties. Many of the plain English principles that would eventually inspire the Plain English Campaign were put into early action with both The Tuebrook Bugle and The Liverpool News. Chrissie was also a member of the UK's
32:, particularly by businesses and official bodies. Chrissie was inspired both by the need for democratic language (information that could be understood by adults of all educational levels) and plain language champions such as
97:, editor of the Oxford Companion to the English Language said, "In all the history of the language, there has never been such a powerful grassroots movement to influence it as the Plain English Campaign."
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79:. She remained on the NCC until 1979 and it was during this time that she started the Salford Form Market to help people fill in forms, which led to the birth of Plain English Campaign.
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Chrissie Maher was born the fifth of six children of her parents and grew up in
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In 1971, Maher founded the UK's first community newspaper, the
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were desperately short of money to fill benefit forms.
311:"Chrissie Maher—a story of inspiration and aspiration"
414:. Glasgow: Herald & Times Group. 31 December 1993
197:. Globalities Series. Reaktion Books. p. 193.
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145:Honorary Fellowship for services to communication.
435:"Champion of plain English rewarded with degree"
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150:Public Affairs Achiever of the Year
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341:Sanderson, Frank (14 April 2010).
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460:Williams, Lynne (1 August 1997).
154:Outstanding Achiever of the Year
143:Liverpool John Moores University
513:Plain English Campaign Homepage
433:Sanders, Claire (26 May 1995).
309:Redmond, Phil (16 July 2010).
240:Chrissie's story - Chapter two
191:Fischer, Steven Roger (2004).
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490:. Women in Public Life Awards
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382:"Plain speaking is no joke"
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468:. London: TSL Education.
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71:. In 1974, Maher started
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24:(born 1938) co-founded
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273:A start in advertising
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194:A History of Language
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101:Awards & honours
462:"Honorary degrees"
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