This week’s news has been somewhat delayed. The reason for this is that one of my closest friends Graham Bool died very suddenly last Friday. For many of you the name may not ring many bells but you might have seen Graham a wheelchair user with his ginger hair taking photographs at an event you attended or possibly you knew him through his photographic coverage of several Paralympics. I went to school with Graham in the 1950’s and shared most of my life with him. He Is survived by two wonderful children Roger and Jessica who he cared for alone when his wife Fran died in the 1990’s. Graham was a warm hearted, generous and funny man. He had a real zest for life and I will miss him terribly. Minister gives first estimates for IB reassessments The government has given its first estimate of the number of people claiming long-term incapacity benefit (IB) who they expect will be found “fit for work” when reassessed using a controversial new test. The work capability assessment (WCA) was ...

Hello once again after a bit of a lull! The garden now looks like a desert and even the rabbits have moved next door. A great pity according to my son who is keen to use the new air rifle purchased to protect the strawberries!! He makes an interesting sight sitting in his bedroom wearing camouflage and a mud covered face. (I should mention he’s 20 not 6!) Last week I attended a lovely evening hosted by Kay Allen from Royal Mail at the House of Lords. This was to celebrate Lord Morris’s Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, which became law 40 years ago. The guests ranged from those who were activists at the time through to people dealing with disability issues in today’s world. Moving tributes were paid to Alf Morris and the evening served as reminder of how far we have come over the last four decades. The clips that follow make the point very eloquently that there is still much to do! Campaigners face new euthanasia battle Disabled activists campaigning against the legalisation o...