Tourettes Awareness Challenge Day 09: Derby – Stoke on Trent – Chester – Liverpool – Manchester

Day 09: Derby – Stoke on Trent – Chester – Liverpool – Manchester Well, we were up bright and early and raring to go again. Everyone has been asking us if we’re tired yet. We think it’s adrenaline that’s keeping us going, and great pleasure at the reception we are getting from the local authorities. First stop today was Derby. We stopped at Derby County’s football ground for a Greggs breakfast and Donna’s fix of Starbucks latte. Easy parking right next to the lovely old market square, and we crossed the road to the Town Hall to meet Cabinet Member Cllr Mark Tittley and Head of Comms Dal Guram.

Also joining us were a local reporter and photographer. Incredible timing as just as they arrived, a young man on a bike dressed in an Asda uniform rode past us laughing, swearing and yelling abuse, and then a group of workmen came past pointing and smirking. Unsurprisingly the reporter’s first question to Cllr Tittley was: “These ladies have been in the city for five minutes and have already been abused twice. Do you have any comments?” Tough one. But a great opportunity to raise awareness. Derby City Council had already issued a press release before our visit, and now had the chance to get the message out for a second time that Tourettes is no joke. Cllr Tittley apologised to us, but we explained that this was just a fraction of what many people with TS experience on a regular basis. Back to the car and off to Stoke. In the car Donna took the opportunity to ring the manager in Derby Asda, and we think that there may well be a staff awareness session taking place there sometime very soon. We were welcomed into the gorgeous Mayoral Parlour in Stoke on Trent by the Lord Mayor and her Consort who introduced themselves as Sheila and Barry.

They were genuinely interested in finding out more about TS, having done their homework, and said “Tell us what you need us to do.” So positive. They agreed to dissemination of the information pack and a press release for greater public awareness, and we left – with a little souvenir bag - after a quick drink, and hugs all round. With the strange experience of seeing a big Dalek in a field en route, we headed for Chester, once again in glorious sunshine. We have been so fortunate with the weather during this Challenge. It’s been amazing. In Chester the Lord Mayor was waiting for us in the Castle Car Park with Kathy Singleton, Head of Adult Services (Health & Disability) and Daphne Jones from Children & Young People’s Services.

And a photographer from the local newspaper. We enjoyed brief discussions with the Lord Mayor, who, resplendent in purple suit with matching purple hair, was off to another engagement soon afterwards – and a more detailed chat with the Cabinet Member and officers. The City Council’s press release had already been prepared in advanced, and so we look forward to yet more public awareness. Today we’ve been sent links to a range of websites and newspaper articles across the country following our visit – and we were particularly impressed with York’s full page feature on Sam Findlay. Well done Sam! We arrived in Liverpool slightly ahead of schedule, so there was time for a little shopping for essentials and a loo break. In the grand Town Hall reception room our visit was promoted on the electronic notice board, and soon the friendly and flamboyant Lord Mayor Gary came to greet us and give us a quick tour of the main rooms. We were delighted that Lisa, Neil and Josh Rudge and “Tick” Nick joined us for the tour and meeting.

We saw the Hillsborough clock – stopped at six minutes past three – and Eileen was sorry to have just a very quick glimpse of the extremely interesting room commemorating the thirteen and a half thousand from Liverpool Fallen in the Great War. The Lord Mayor offered us biscuits home made in the Town Hall, as he asked us all about Tourettes and how the City Council could do more. Photographs were taken for a press release. Rush hour, for us and everyone else, as we headed for Manchester’s enormous Town Hall – twin of the Palace of Westminster. We were late – almost half an hour – but the Lord Mayor had waited for us, as had Cabinet Member Cllr Khan and the Director of Children and Young People’s Services and Jane Lemon from the Press Office.

We had very useful discussions about potential action, and they agreed to follow up with dissemination of information to front-line staff, press release, and lots of sharing and tweeting on Facebook and Twitter.

We were very impressed with the Mayor’s chain of office and it’s 365 diamonds. Bling and a half. We also enjoyed our whistlestop tour of City Hall as we made our way to the loos. Apparently it was used as Westminster for filming of the Meryl Streep film about Margaret Thatcher, as well as many others. It was starting to get dark, and we made our way to the local hospital to visit our friend Georgie who is very unwell with her TS at the moment. Georgie bravely underwent Deep Brain Stimulation earlier this year, which sadly has not worked for her. It was lovely to be able to go and see her, and have an hour to chat and tell her our stories. Afterwards, too tired to go out for dinner, we made our way across the city to our hotel, where we ate lots of junk – pizza slices, cup-a-soup, biscuits etc – to keep body and soul together. And early to bed.