Clare Woodward

Clare Woodward is a Student at our Carnegie Club.  She joined us in January 1998, and has been developing her literacy skills ever since.

We suggested to Clare that she tell us more about her physiotherapy sessions, as a way of practicing her writing.  This soon developed into a detailed biography, and this is what she wrote.

Use the links to go the section you want to read.

Family

Hello my name is Clare Woodward I have Cerebral Palsy. I was born at the Weir Hospital Balham 9 February1973. I was 26 weeks in the womb I weighed like a bag of sugar and I was small enough to fit into the palm of my father's hand. My dad is Brain Philip Woodward a professional wrestler and singer/song writer. My Mum is Mary Woodward she used to be a typist and is now a Carer. I have got two brothers called Kevin and John Woodward; Kevin is the oldest, John is the middle and I am the youngest child.

My dad has also acted on television and in films; he has also appeared in a play called Trafford Tanzi which was produced in London and on Broadway in America.

At the moment I am in my Electric wheelchair or my manual wheelchair or walking with sticks. The "physios" have helped me get this far. But I never get the chance to walk normally. I have done horse riding carriage driving and swimming, but these are part of my treatment. What I want is something that gives me even more freedom. The next stage in physiotherapy is Judo. In Judo you get thrown about. This is good because when you are thrown about you are on a mat, you are not in your wheelchair and you are not using sticks. And you have got your freedom. I will start off with women only and later go on to mixed groups. Eventually I will get my own back on my best friend James who has qualified as a physiotherapist.

School

I went to a special nursery at Streatham Common Health Centre. I then went a playgroup, Linda Labrum was the leader. I attended the Paul Sandifer Unit, twice a week, 10.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. for 6 years. I went to Balham Health Centre to the speech therapist three times per week, for four years.

At five years of age I attended St. James the Great School, Norbury, but, because I was going to Great Ormond Street twice per week, the headmistress thought that I would be better off at a School for the Delicate. I did not like this school because I was bullied. Some children put clay down my back. They pushed me into nettles.

I then went to Thurlow Park School; I liked Thurlow Park, I got more support from the teachers and staff than I did at my previous school. When I was at Thurlow Park we went on a holiday in a long boat on the canal. When I was at Thurlow Park school I used to do sewing each week. I made myself a red skirt and a patchwork quilt for John’s bed. I also made a pillow case for my Granddad and I an embroidered capital K and H which I had framed for a wedding present for my brother Kevin and my sister-in-law, Heather. When I left Thurlow Park School I then went to South London College, now known as Lambeth College. I have completed Pre-vocation Course one 1990-91 and The Vocational Foundation 1 Course 1991-92

Pastimes

I was a Brownie and joined in all their activities, I won many badges. I then became a Girl Guide. I went to Los Angles in 1998, for three weeks. I am now a Venture Scout and have been Caving in Somerset and Scuba diving in the local swimming pool although the latter wasn’t much of a success because I could not swim and keep the mouthpiece in, so one of instructors held the mouth piece in place so that I could be taken under the water. I also tried wall climbing at Crystal Place, the leader made a video of me which he has now studied because climbing was not much of a success. He knows the problem and says that I am to try again, My answer is "get lost Jim"

I have been a bridesmaid twice. The first time was in Llanelli when I was 6 years old to my Uncle Andrew and Auntie Barbara. My eldest cousin Jacqueline supported me while they were taking the photographs so that I could hold my basket of flowers.

The second time I was a bridesmaid was in 1995, to my Uncle Peter and Joyce. They were married in Manchester. I had my wheelchair on the Altar. At the reception I put my feet on my Uncle Andrew’s feet and we danced the bridesmaids dance together, it was wonderful to dance.

Since 1989, each August I have been to Netley Waterside House, Southampton for a Youth fortnight party; I had a special friend Nicola who lived at Lancaster and came to Netley for our holiday together but she died in January this year.

I have been going horse riding at the Diamond Riding Centre, Carshalton, each Saturday for the part of 14 years. I have also been on two riding holidays in Chigwell, this year I gained my Dressage Test 3 Certificate and a rosette. When I leave college I would like to do something with horses but because I have to use a wheelchair I do not think that this would be possible.

I used to go swimming twice a week but have not been recently because my friend Nikki has had an operation so I visited her on my day off from College instead of swimming

The local newspaper fund-raised for me and bought me an Electric wheelchair. It cost £2,500 and the insurance costs £75 per year

Recently my bank was refurbished. There was a step, which I could not get up. I campaigned to get the step turned into a ramp. This is now being done. I had my photograph in the local newspapers and the Best Magazine.

I have had operations on my eyes, legs and feet. In 1990 my patella went around the back of my leg, it was extremely painful. I was in full plaster for 9 months. When they took the plaster off, it took three large tubes of hair remover cream to get all the hair off my leg.

I am also an auntie, my nephew is the son of my oldest brother Kevin. William Sydney Woodward was born on the 26th August 1991.

I now live with my Mum and my dog, Harry. He is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and he is 5 months old.

I am on an injection now; it is called botulism and it is to help my muscles.

Clare Woodward