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One of my first jobs as a young man was as a G P O telegram messenger. In pre-computer days this was a service of delivering printed messages, money orders and various congratulations run by the post office and delivered by lads like me on motorcycles. At 16 years of age to be paid to ride a motorcycle all day was close to heaven. In the early 1960s the motorcycle industry in the West Midlands was huge with 20,000 people employed in manufacture. Birmingham city centre would be packed at night with 200 or so bikes and speeding fines along the Stratford and Bristol Roads were commonplace. After a time I felt that public roads would not let me travel as fast as I would like so I started to race at circuits such as Brands hatch and Silverstone. Over the years racing stopped and started according to the financial and sponsorship situation at the time. In between race periods we ran one of the first race schools in the UK at major circuits. My wife Jean and I also started a trade stand selling clothing, badges etc at major race meetings. It was hard work but good fun. I was fortunate enough to win some races, a club championship and a national championship. I had a few broken bones on the way but enjoyed the aggression and adrenalin. In May 2001 I was racing at my favourite circuit, Mallory Park when I crashed and received a traumatic brain injury. I was first taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary who immediately transferred me to the Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham where I was put on a life support machine. I was unconscious for eight days. After three weeks I was sent to Solihull Hospital where I stayed for two weeks before being released to the care of my wife Jean who gave up working to be my full time carer. Initially things were difficult because I was in a wheelchair and had suffered an almost total memory loss. I had to be introduced to my wife and family again. I attended Solihull Hospital for physiotherapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy. I also had numerous eye tests. The treatment I received was excellent being mainly one to one. In March 2002 I was referred to Moor Green for three days each week initially on the existing Pre-voc course. This was quite difficult for me but with the help of staff I coped. After attending Moor Green for a few days it was so good to be able to talk to other people who had suffered a brain injury. I also attended the brain injury education course by Robin. It was a great advantage to learn how the brain works and how injury and illness can affect you. Brain injury leaves people with different problems be they physical, psychological and social and just to realise that you are not alone is a huge help. Initially your personal improvements seem slow but when you meet people who have not seen you for some time they will be aware of your progress. With help over a period of time my speech, balance and memory started to improve although I still had visual problems having lost50% of my sight. At some period of time you have to accept that you will have a different lifestyle but with the support of family, friends and the excellent staff group at Moor Green the future can look bright again! |
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