The Master’s Blog 20

THE TRELOAR TALKS- WEDNESDAY 28 MARCH 2018
Following our very moving visit to Treloar’s School in Hampshire earlier this year, the Mistress Plumber and I are pleased to have the opportunity to attend this year’s Treloar Talks in Glaziers’ Hall this evening.
Chaired by news presenter Alastair Stewart OBE, the evening consists of 5 short talks by people from different backgrounds who speak of their messages of hope and encouragement in the face of adversity. For example, we hear from para Olympic gold medallist Anne Usher MBE who describes her journey after suffering a simple accident which ended her cycling career to getting into a kayak for the first time and going on to win gold at the 2016 Rio Olympics. She generously allows her medal to be passed round the audience- and it is certainly heavy! Another victim of a relatively simple accident, Dan Aley is now paralysed from the neck down but has gone on to lead a charity which seeks to bring happiness to children in poverty. It is inspiring to listen to Dan- and happiness just shines through his talk.
Perhaps the most moving of the evening’s presentations is given by Angus Irvine whose 21-year-old daughter, Lily, suffers from cerebral palsy and is a student at Treloar’s College. Angus describes the challenges which had been faced by all of his family after Lily’s birth but is so positive about the difference which Treloar’s had made both to Lily and the rest of the family. It is definitely one of those moments when you could have heard a pin drop.
We have no doubt that Treloar’s provides an invaluable service to so many young people and their families and it deserves all the support it receives from the City of London and its Livery Companies.