INTRODUCTION…
So many events, whether natural or man-made, where life is lost and people are hurt or injured are marked with memorials …
… As Thalidomide-impaired people, now enter the fourth quarter of our lives, we think it is fitting that the contribution we have made to United Kingdom history is marked with a suitable memorial.
REASONS FOR THE MEMORIAL…
Thalidomide-impaired people have been the protagonists of the disabled people’s movement. We have bulldozed our way through many of the barriers that society places in the way of disabled people.
The majority of us, despite living with constant pain and aching joints, just quietly get on with our lives without our impairments being the main issue. We have used our strengths to bring about many changes in legislation and social policy, and generally, society has become more accepting of seeing disabled people as a direct result of the Thalidomide story.
Until this event, the majority of disabled people were accommodated in institutions, hospitals and other establishments away from the public eye. Horrific injuries, often caused by the ravages of the two World Wars, were perceived as being too distressing for public view. This changed when many of the parents of Thalidomide children refused to allow their children to be seen as objects of pity, and were proud to be seen as a whole family unit.
More latterly, through middle-eastern conflicts, we have witnessed an increase in young service personnel becoming disabled. In so many ways, the advancements made in the provision and manufacture of prosthetic limbs, mobility adaptations and attitudes towards daily living are due to work carried out by and on behalf of the Thalidomide generation and the commitment that so many parents made to our well being.
It is therefore right that our place in history is appropriately marked.
SUPPORT FOR THE MEMORIAL…
An Electronic Petition for a memorial was launched in November 2009, and at the time of its premature closure in April 2010, 258 signatories had added their support to the petition which called on the Prime Minister to … “establish a lasting memorial to honour those persons and their families who have been, and continue to be affected by the Thalidomide tragedy.”
Post 2010 General election, the petition was not reopened, and the resolve to proceed with the memorial project intensified.
With considerable hard work, a paper petition was supported by people throughout the UK.
Our support has transcended social and economic boundaries – in much the same way as was apparent with the effects of the Thalidomide tragedy over 50 years ago.
We are pleased to advise that we were supported (through the electronic and paper petition) by over 1200 people who believed our project to be worthy of their endorsement.
More specifically:
PARLIAMENTARY and REGIONAL SUPPORT
- Baroness Randerson of Roath Park
- Jenny Willott - former Liberal Democrat MP
- Rt. Hon Boris Johnson MP - former Mayor of London
- Rt. Hon Delme Bowen - former Lord Mayor of Cardiff
- The late Lord Ashley of Stoke – and his family
- The late Lord Morris of Manchester
- Rt. Hon Andy Burnham MP
- John Penrose MP
- David TC Davies MP
- Paul Barstow - former MP and former Minister of State for Care Services
BUSINESS AND COMMERCE, LAW, CELEBRITY AND SPORT
Our campaign has been supported by current and former international sportspersons from the football and rugby world, including Craig Bellamy (former Welsh International - Cardiff City Football Club), Jonathan Davies (former Wales International rugby player and television personality).
Professor Lord Robert Winston has added his support to the project, along with Max Boyce, who has been an ever-present face on the Welsh comedy scene for over 30 years.
Additionally, we are pleased to have been supported by a major shareholder of the Admiral Insurance Group, and by Directors of the Board of the Cardiff City Stadium Limited.
Sir Michael Wright, as immediate past Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Thalidomide Trust also supports the project, along with other Trustees; and the recently retired Trust Director – Doctor Martin Johnson.
Henry Hoare, Senior Partner of C. Hoare and Company of 37 Fleet Street, London, endorsed the memorial proposal as being “an excellent idea.”
Support for the Memorial in Wales has been the strongest, and by the dedicated work of Rosaleen Moriarty-Simmonds OBE who, at all times has been the project’s main protagonist, the dream has now become a reality.