In 1973 when I reached the age of 16 I managed to pass 5 'O' level exams with a grade 1 in Maths but my heart was set on leaving school to move into the world of work. Within a short space of time I found myself at West Midlands Gas where I started out as an apprentice working on the district for part of the time and going to Walsall College of Technology to gain the necessary qualifications for gas fitting. By 1976 I was fully qualified and shortly after I found myself working on domestic central heating systems, a job which I thoroughly enjoyed.

During these years my love of football found expression in the Brierley Hill league with Parkdale Rovers. These years were successful in that I was Player of the Year for 3 consecutive years but more importantly it was a time when I met people who became lifelong friends. Between training sessions which were held at the Gilbert Claughton School in Dudley, the Lamp Tavern at the top of Bath Hill became a focal point for socialising. (I always felt it important to keep fluid levels up after a training session). Weekends often saw a group of us frequenting 'The Romulus' in Birmingham or 'The Lafayette' in Wolverhampton. Again, these were happy days which still bring back warm memories - a bit like a beautiful sunset when there are no clouds on the horizon.

The sunset brightened further on 3 January 1978 when I was invited to a birthday party of someone who was to have a special place in my life. The birthday girl had just turned 19 years of age. We got on well from the outset and before the month ended she was attending my 21^st birthday celebration which was held at 'The Court House' in Dudley. This period of my life was so easy in many ways. I was doing a job I really enjoyed, I played football regularly and was winning trophies, I had some close friends whom I socialised with most evenings and now I had met the person whom I was to marry. Around this time I travelIed to various places: I went to Barcelona with my friends and with my fiance I went to Jersey, Corfu and also Israel. My football world was also expanding. I moved to Willenhall Town who played in the West Midlands league at that time and where my younger brother had established himself in the first team.

Perhaps it is best that we cannot see into the future or I would have been particularly nervous when 4 December 1979 approached. This was the day when my life took an unexpected turn. It began as any other Tuesday. I worked on the district servicing central heating systems and I was looking forward to training with my brother at Willenhall Town on the evening. Training was taking place at St Thomas More School in Bilston as usual and we were going through the normal array of exercises such as sit ups and press ups when, so I was told later, there was great concern about me. I had slipped in to unconsciousness and an ambulance was called.

I was taken to the Guest Hospital in Dudley where all of my family arrived as concerns grew. It turned out that I had not fainted but had experienced a sub-achronoid haemorrhage. From this moment the path that my life was to take could not have been foreseen. My family were informed that I was too ill to be transferred to the specialist Neuro-Surgery Hospital in Smethwick but it was hoped that this would be possible within a couple of days. I remember lying in a darkened room for some time and hearing the voices of my family members from time to time. On one occasion when I returned to consciousness I saw a priest standing by my bed and began to panic until I realised that it was a friend of my brother's who had just joined the priesthood. Shortly afterwards my transfer to Smethwick was effected and life saving surgery was carried out by Dr Williams to whom I will always be grateful. A long process of recovery was necessary in which I had to learn again to walk unaided and I needed the love and support of my family and friends who were with me at every turn.

It is difficult to express the whole array of changes that have taken place in my life due to the haemorrhage but I will try to share some of them with you. In the very early days when I was still in hospital I remember having to use a feeder cup for drinking [I also remember having it filled with Mackeson as a special Christmas treat although I am not sure the Ward sister was aware]. The nursing staff were excellent but their efforts to encourage me to go to the toilet by turning on the taps so I could hear running water made me concerned that the nurses might need to go before I did. I am told that I taught my brother how to play crib during my recovery period in hospital and because the rules changed on a daily basis he still to this day does not understand the game. The only consistent thing he learned was that whatever he did resulted in the money going directly into my bedside drawer.

My recovery continued at the home of my parents where gradually and very slowly I began to do a little more each day with support. Six months later I suffered my first epileptic seizure following reduction in my medication - unfortunately for me I was in the toilet at the local cinema in Dudley where I had gone to watch 'The Shining' with my sister-in-law. This was a set back which sapped our confidence at the time and similar seizures occurred over the next few years which were a cause of anxiety.

In June 1980 I returned to work at British Gas but my previous role was now a thing of the past. My independence was lost as I was unable to work alone but they were good days and I was grateful to be able to go back to the world of work which I had always enjoyed. Following further seizures my role was further limited and I was not allowed to work on the district and found myself in the stores at the main base. The support of family and friends continued to be of tremendous importance to me. Willenhall Town Football Club, with whom I had been training at the time of my haemorrhage, were very supportive. Their kindness and care were helpful to all of the family and I was completely surprised when they raised funds especially for me - something which I will never forget. A day at Wembley Stadium when my younger brother represented Willenhall Town in the FA Vase final is something which I will never forget either.

1982 was a key year. On 3 July I was married at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Old Hill. The day was made more special because my elder brother who had been ordained as a priest the previous month officiated. The day was truly wonderful and in spite of the difficulties of the previous three years I knew that there was no luckier man than me. The Wedding Reception at 'The Saracen's Head' in Dudley was followed by a honeymoon in Jersey. The honeymoon was not seizure free but that did not spoil the happiness which I enjoyed at this time. Setting up a new home in Kingswinford was the next challenge to be faced and this was not helped in September of the same year when I was informed British Gas were going to make me redundant. This was a very big blow as it meant that the life which I had always enjoyed and which I had managed to cling onto was to end for good. It also meant that my married life would also be affected - How would we be able to manage financially? What would I do with my days?

My wife continued to work full-time and I tried to do the jobs at home which needed to be done. I soon found that this was very difficult to do. We take so much for granted don't we? A meal needs preparing and there is time to prepare it but it does not get done - Why? The room needs to be vacuumed and the vacuum remains quiet in the kitchen - Why? The implications of my brain injury were never far away. The patience, kindness and consideration which we all need as members of the human family are doubly important for someone with a brain injury.

At this time I tried a variety of part-time jobs with varying degrees of success: sanding / varnishing furniture; garden clearance; steam cleaning / paint spraying. I had returned to driving at this time but I found concentrating difficult and a couple of minor accidents confirmed this fact. I reluctantly agreed to stop driving and although I knew it was for the best I also knew that this was the end of something which I had always enjoyed and would mean a further reduction in my independence.

The impact of my brain injury continued to affect my life on a daily basis. Nevertheless, I have always been thankful for the life I have and for the friendships that I have made. This support continued to be important to me not least when in 1986, just 4 years into my marriage, it was over. This came as a complete shock to me and was difficult to come to terms with. My wife had decided that she wished for a divorce and subsequently emigrated. This was a very sad chapter in my life but I have nothing but fond memories of the time we spent together.

A new chapter in my life now began. I returned to the family home in Netherton where I lived with my parents. My home life provided me with stability which I needed following all of the changes which I had experienced in the previous years. My parents were totally selfless and supported me and helped me along the next stage of my life.

Dudley Technical College became a new focal point in my life at this time and for many years ahead up to the present day. I attended college and was offered a variety of courses within the Supported Learning Department: Computer Studies - whilst enjoying the course itself I found that I enjoyed particularly helping other students who required additional support e.g. physically disabled students; Photography - this was one of my great loves; Cookery - I enjoyed the lessons and also the eating of what I had cooked; Horticulture was a further area of learning that I have experienced over the years.

Whilst the individual courses have provided the focus for my attendance at college, my actual regular attendance has provided me with a routine which has been very beneficial to me. Nevertheless, I feel that the main benefit from attending college has been the people I have met and the friends I have made. I have been able to support and help others which I have enjoyed tremendously and the friendships have continued to the present day. One particular friendship of note developed over time - Rosie. For some years she has been my girlfriend and we have been able to support and care for each other. Our main hobby is visiting the cinema which we do twice a week which we combine with a meal at Pizza Hut.

1989 was a significant year in my life because of the loss of my father who sadly died after a short illness. The next eight years were spent in Netherton with my mother, Hannah. She was very caring and was always anxious about my welfare. It was a time when college life continued and good friends were made. 'Countdown' on Channel 4 was a favourite programme of mine and my mother and I have many happy memories of walking Max, the family Staffordshire bull terrier.

College also provided me with opportunity to travel. Over the years I have visited the Lake District, Northumberland, Dorset and Austria and I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to broaden my horizons. Thanks to charitable organisations I have had the chance to travel to such places as Holland and Germany. With members of my family I have visited America, Australia and Thailand as well and so when I look back over my life I have been fortunate in many ways.

The pattern of these years was broken in June 1997 when my mother passed away following a long period of ill health. The loss of my mother was followed by the moving away from the family home which we had originally moved into in 1957. This was a time of significant change again for me as I had to move from the home that I had lived in for so many years. Since that time I have always lived with a member of my family. At the time of writing I live at my sister's home in a purpose built room added onto the house. Living within my family has been very important to me and I know it has been equally as important to them - isn't that what a family is all about? This has provided me with a stability amongst all the changes that I have been faced with in my life.

Headway Black Country has been of help to me over the last 12 months. At my first visit it was explained to me how Headway operated but more importantly I was made to feel important, valued and welcome. Sam Hay introduced me to Headway and in recent times Jenny Richens has been most supportive and helpful to me. I have also made new friends in Bill and Dean whom I work with at Dudley Wood Community Centre.

Just when I might have thought I was going through a more settled period in my life I made a visit to see my G.P. in December of last year and I was referred to Russells Hall Hospital for tests as a precautionary measure. Soon I was to face a new challenge! The results of the tests indicated that I was suffering with bowel cancer and an operation was required quite urgently to address the problem. I was pleased that I was not to face this difficulty on my own as again my brothers and sisters and my girlfriend, Rosie, were there with me. Rosie has had a special place in my life for many years now.

In March of this year my surgery was carried out successfully and in the following months I recuperated well. I have since returned home where I have benefited from the cooking of my sister (or should I say, I have survived in spite of the cooking). My follow up appointments have shown that I need a course of chemotherapy which will be commencing in the near future.

In spite of these difficulties I look forward to the future - I have my faith, my family and my friends - what more do I need?

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