Page 17 - Community Living Magazine 33 - 1

As a young athlete and this year at the finish line in front of Buckingham
Palace at the Special Olympics Unified Mile event

“To be honest, we have never looked in the office, and holds
back because he has enriched our lives an NVQ 2 qualification.
completely. We’ve met so many people While he clearly enjoys
through Greg and we’ve made so many the job, his heart remains
friends. At competitions, we always in the world of sport.
get together. Now, aged 42, his
“We’ve been really lucky with him main sport is table
because you never know, whichever baby tennis and he has a
you have, whether they have a disability competition soon. Two of these friends are also planning to
or not, you don’t know what the future write about him. “They are doing a book
holds, do you? We went on to have two Hall of fame on me. About my life. What I am like and
daughters as well, who have both been One source of satisfaction is the way that how I have come from a young baby to an
very, very supportive.” his achievements have been recognised. adult,” he says.
Silvester now gives awareness talks to He was inducted into Wolverhampton’s
schools and colleges. He makes a point of hall of fame, which celebrates local Taking to another stage
saying that anyone with learning sporting heroes. In March this year, Silvester went out to
disabilities should have the chance to be He was also chosen to carry the Olympic the Special Olympics Summer Games in
part of their local sports activities. torch in Auckland in New Zealand in 2000. Abu Dhabi as a director on the board of
He talks about the importance of building In the same year, he was chosen as one of Special Olympics Great Britain – “a nice
on a person’s ability rather than focusing the 12 People of the Year by RADAR (the experience,” he says. He was proud to be
on their disability. And he talks about his Royal Association for Disability and representing the organisations.
own life: “I’ve still got a learning disability Rehabilitation, now known as Disability He has been involved for many years in
but it doesn’t mean I can’t do things for Rights UK). drama groups and is now writing a play.
myself, because I can. I live independently Silvester has taken part in many displays He has a dream of one day being a TV
now – I’ve been living on my own for just including one in Malta for 250 people presenter: “I could do a sports programme
over two years. It’s nice to get the message with the country’s president and prime or a documentary for people with any sort
to people who are not educated or aware minister present. He was also presented of learning disability.”
of any sort of learning disabilities.” to Princess Diana when she had just I first saw Silvester speaking on TV as
At one college, Silvester was due to become a mother. Someone whispered to part of a documentary about Eunice
give a talk to a class of students who were him to ask how her new baby was. Kennedy Shriver, the founder of the Special
said to be somewhat unruly and Silvester says that, luckily, he remembered Olympics movement, and he was a natural
disruptive. However, he soon had them the name and asked: “How’s William?” on the small screen. So, any TV executives
rapt with attention. His father Peter, who “She was brilliant!” he says, adding who are reading: you know what to do.
was there, says: “You could have heard a how sad he was to hear the news when It is clear that Greg Silvester has had an
pin drop.” she died. amazing life with remarkable
After the talk, Peter collected the and his family have experienced is a lack of talents, life has not always been easy. But
One of the barriers to sports that Silvester achievements. Despite his sporting
feedback forms. “It was unbelievable. It
Unified Mile event: Claire Behan reviews of Greg’s speech,” he says. “That individual, trust and corporate donations, completely and I have got a great job, a
funding. The Special Olympics depend on
he says: “Up to now things have changed
brought tears to my eyes. The actual good
great family and a great life ahead of me.”
and receive no government funding.
just shows – doesn’t it? – that he can
inspire the younger ones.”
The family are often involved with
For the past nine years, Silvester has
Seán Kelly was chief executive of the
fundraising to help cover the costs of
Elfrida Society from 2001 to 2012 and is
attending games around the world and
also had a day job. He works part time for
Cadent, a gas supplier, doing administration
Community Living Vol 33 No 1 | Autumn 2019 17
www.cl-initiatives.co.uk they receive a lot of support from friends. now a freelance writer and photographer