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The Robin Tavistock Award 2008

12 December 2008

The Tavistock Trust for Aphasia have awarded The Robin Tavistock Award 2008 to Connect.

(left to right) Sally Byng, Henrietta, Duchess of Bedford and Phyllis Campbell-McRae, Chief Executive of Connect.

This award, named after Robin Tavistock, the late 14th Duke of Bedford, who founded The Tavistock Trust for Aphasia, is presented annually to a person, or group, who has made a significant contribution in the field of aphasia.

The award was presented by Henrietta, Duchess of Bedford at a ceremony at The King’s Fund on 9 December. Sally Byng, who co-founded Connect with Carole Pound in 2000, received the award on behalf of Connect.

Before the presentation, invited guests listened to some moving stories from people  living with aphasia about the realities of living with this ‘invisible’ disability.

Alan Hewitt, who leads Connects ‘Connect-ed’ project, spoke of the isolation of aphasia. ‘It is hard to explain how such a lonely place this is to be.’ he said. He explained that Connect changed his life’s direction and was the first organisation to ‘believe’ in him. He said Connect have changed his working life because of the support he gets from colleagues. But for Alan, it is not all plain sailing and ‘He still gets scared.’

Robin Lamerton had a stroke after a routine dental operation and now has aphasia. ‘There’s one of me every fifteen minutes,’ he said.

He is now Connect’s Working Together Co-ordinator on the Access to Life Project in Cornwall. Robin spoke of the frustration of not being able to communicate what he wanted to say. And he told, with passion, about his work with the Hospital and Home Befriending Scheme which makes such a difference to people with aphasia. ‘My befriender saved my life’, said one participant. Robin said that working for Connect has meant he now feels respected as an equal person.

Margaret and Michael Hussey gave an emotional talk about the difference aphasia has made to their lives and their relationship. Margaret spoke of her anger when told by the consultant that Michael ‘has only lost his speech’. ‘Only!’, she said.

Margaret went through a whole range of emotions. ‘I have never been so angry. I walked along the hospital corridors to the car sobbing wildly and crying out as I was completely unable to contain my grief. I remember shouting, “He bloody well will talk!”.

Then Michael spoke of how he felt - how he even wanted to die. They both spoke of the difference that Connect made to their lives. Margaret said ‘At Connect, sharing experiences with other carers who understood my fears and panics was so healing. I started to rise out of the cloud of self pity and became more able to celebrate his very real progress. His confidence and ability to communicate were leaping forward, powered by his love for the people he met in his groups. He started to help in training sessions for students, health workers and therapists, feeding back his assessment of how well they had communicated with him.'

When asked if she would change anything, Margaret said ‘I never thought we’d say this but now we have found Connect we can both honestly say no, thanks to Connect and those funders who have helped us reconnect with life again!’

Henrietta, Duchess of Bedford said, ‘We are delighted that the first Robin Tavistock Award to be given to a group should go to Connect.  Their impact and influence on how people with aphasia can re-connect with life has been both inspirational and widespread.  Since Sally Byng and Carole Pound founded Connect, the team has pioneered work in this field – and they continue to do so, through projects such as  the Access to Life Project in Cornwall’.

Robin Tavistock had a brain haemorrhage in 1988 which left him with aphasia (communication disability). Robin founded the Trust to ensure that more people could have access to the quality of treatment he received.

Alan Hewitt, Project Lead, Connect-ed

Robin Lamerton, who has aphasia, Working Together Co-ordinator, Connect

Margaret and Michael Hussey

Michael Hussey with Henrietta, Duchess of Bedford

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