Clam Point resident, Ruben Joey Brannen, born with Down Syndrome, literally found his voice when he started talking on a VHF marine radio. Photo Amy Woolvett
‘Little farmer boy’ finds voice on VHF
By Amy Woolvett
THE COAST GUARD
NovaNewsNow.com
Every day Ruben Joey Brannen wakes up, makes his bed and cleans his floor. He gives out papers to the Sunday school at the Pentecostal church and as a hobby builds beautiful birdhouses and whirligig ornaments that spin and twirl out on the lawn.
Every night at 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. he sits in his Clam Point, Cape Sable Island room and, using the name ‘little farmer boy’ talks on his VHF marine radio.
According to listener and family friend Shirley Hopkins, “All of Shelburne County and some of Yarmouth County listen to him almost every night.”
What makes his show so special is before receiving his VHF as a birthday present five years ago he almost never spoke.
Joey Brannen is 59 years old and was born with Down Syndrome.
Shortly after receiving the VHF his mother, Isie Brannen visited a neighbour who was listening to a man speak on the VHF with regular dialogue.
Recognition sparked when she heard the voice.
“Who is that on the radio? Is that my Joey?” exclaimed Isie Brannen in surprise.
“Oh yes,” said her neighbour. “We listen to him talk every night.”
Up until that point Joey’s mother rarely heard her son speak and mostly communicated with hand gestures.
“I didn’t know he could talk like that,” reminisces Isie Brannen.
After years of being quiet Joey Brannen gained confidence with the aid of the VHF and found his voice.
“I talk to all my friends,” says Joey Brannen, “every night at seven.”
by Amy Woolvett 
