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CHAPTER 37
One of the most outstanding examples in this group is Major D.A. who, before the
war, worked in his old-established family firm of theatrical costume makers which,
however, did not excite him very much. In 1944, while serving in India, he developed
severe polio which left him with a considerable residual paralysis of both legs. In spite
of his disability, he was destined to become one of the outstanding and dynamic person
alities in the British film industry. The incentive to become a film producer occurred in
the Spinal Centre, when he was watching an unpretentious film about 'A Day in the
Life of Mrs Roosevelt's Pet Dog'. Through his former occupation and, in addition,
encouragement from his father-in-law, he established contacts with the world of enter
tainment. In spite of his physical handicap, he worked with tremendous drive and energy
to win a place in the top class of producers, which he achieved through, amongst other
productions, the film 'Reach for the Sky', which tells the story of the famous R.A.F.
pilot in the Second World War, Group Captain Douglas Bader. In 1956, Major Angel
won the British Film Academy Award. As a side line to his busy life, he is engaged in
various charities, and for many years has been a very active member of the Board of
Management of the Paraplegic Sports Endowment Fund.
(d) This group consists of paraplegics who, at the time of their injuries, were either
totally untrained or whose training had been interrupted by the war.
As an example, a young man who, at the age of 22, sustained a transverse myelitis
in 1946 resulting in a severe although incomplete spastic paraplegia below the waist
while serving in a submarine in 1945. When admitted to the Spinal Centre in September
1947, he had pressure sores, severe urinary infection as a result of suprapubic cystotomy
and was quite demoralized due to enforced inactivity in the previous hospital. It was
gratifying to see how this young man, after his sores were healed and his urinary infection
controlled, changed from being one of those headaches to the medical and nursing staff
into a splendid, co-operative patient once he started training in our precision instrument
workshop. He was the first patient to take up draughtsmanship and soon satisfied his
supervisor so much that the Ministry of Works agreed to train him in their training
college at Worcester. He passed all his examinations with flying colours and has been
employed full-time as a draughtsman in one of the London offices of the Ministry of
Works, driving several miles in his own car from his home to his office, and is now a
senior draughtsman in charge of a department. There, he met another 'graduate' of Stoke
Mandeville, a girl who was admitted at the age of 21, 5 years after having sustained a
complete paraplegia below Ti i at the age of 16. She, too, was trained in draughtsmanship
as a tracer, went through the same training college and was employed in the same
department in London as a tracer. She is one of the outstanding paraplegic sportswomen,
particularly in table tennis and bowling, and has taken part in all international contests
with great distinction. In recognition of her sporting achievements she received the
British Empire Medal some years ago. These two became married and John B. became
the Founder Chairman of the Stoke Mandeville Paraplegic Athletic Club.
We discovered artistic talents in several of our patients, who were encouraged to
develop these talents. In some cases, they received voluntary help and tuition during
in-patient treatment from professional artists. Some have taken up an arts profession after
leaving the Centre.
