The SPIRIT trustees were very sorry to learn that John Borthwick has passed away.
John was 19 when he sustained his spinal cord injury in a diving accident in 1967. He was rehabilitated at the Lodge Moor spinal injury centre, now The Princess Royal Spinal Injury Centre in Sheffield and cared for later by SPIRIT trustee Martin McClelland.
After his injury, John went on to live a very full and active life as a tetraplegic for over 54 years. He worked as a computer programmer, data analyst and project manager before becoming a company director and a non-exec director of an NHS trust.
He was one of the founding trustees of the Spinal Injuries Association (SIA) in 1974. He was an SIA Trustee for many years and he was elected to the role of SIA chair twice.
He played a key role along with SIA CEO, Paul Smith and others in the setting up of the APPG (All Party Parliamentary Group) on spinal cord injury and campaigned for Continuing Healthcare Funding for tetraplegics.
When not campaigning on behalf of others affected by SCI, John was often found driving around Europe on one of his long road trips or supporting Liverpool FC.
His life was a full one, of passionate campaigning and supporting others after spinal cord injury and he will be missed by his family and many friends.
SPIRIT sends condolences to his family. RIP John Borthwick.