Page 17 - CL winter 2023 for web

friendship

Cheers! Christian Raphael is joined by mum
Vicki, friend John Taylor and personal
assistants Ana Fernandes and Tom Maddox
– this is his natural habitat, according to
Maddox; off to post a letter; walking home

Even so, in May 2022, Vicki spent
an hour arguing for Christian’s jab
at the vaccination centre. Three
days later, he tested positive and
Vicki is convinced he caught it
during while waiting at the centre:
“It was the only place we had been.”
For three months, he was
desperately ill in hospital with garden. When rules allowed, there
Covid and nearly intubated on were performances and mini
several occasions. Vicki says “it was festivals; they feel lucky to have the
a near miss”. This experience resources to do this.
explains the cautious return to his What would help improve the learning disability. Leadership
routine, such as the pub visits. lives of people like Christian, says training courses for disabled adults
All his life, Raphael has been Vicki, is stronger governmental By the stage where and parents of disabled children
going to the Cambridge Folk policy. She remembers Valuing mini festivals took are needed, she adds.
place; performers
Festival but that did not run during People, the 2001 white paper that are part of Raphael’s “If I could magic one thing up
the pandemic. The family is promised a new strategy for social network now it would be to have more
involved with the festival and set family leadership courses again,
up a scheme several years ago to like Partners in Policymaking [a
sponsor new musicians and singers. national scheme that started in
Both Raphael and his mother America]. This would be influential
make a choice from a shortlist of and give a network for families. So
newcomers, with the winner of the
you could get the moral lead from
Seán Kelly/www.seankellyphotos.com cash award and professional advice. enjoying a Coke. Maddox launches
people with lived experience.”
Christian Raphael prize receiving a
Back at the pub, Christian is
Mother and son go backstage to
into a David Attenborough
meet artistes, who often keep in
voiceover, joking: “And here is
touch afterwards. Vicki says it gives
Christian in his natural habitat.” We
her son an extra network.
During the pandemic, the family
all grin. Times are tough but this
built a small covered stage in the
Community Living winter 2023 vol 36 no 2 has been a good day. n 17