Barry Morgan
“The authorities wanted to send me away to a residential school because of my physical disability, and my dad said, ‘No way are you taking my son off me.’ And of course, my dad says ‘He’s got a brother he can go to school with his brother, he can sit by his brother and he can learn to read and write with his brother.'” Barry Morgan BA, owner of vending machine company, Wolverhampton
Born 1945
Educated Greenrock School, St Chad’s school in Litchfield, College of Art Walsall, Birmingham Polytechnic, Wolverhampton University.
Barry Morgan Tape 1 - Listen now
Father Sergeant Major bought horse on wheels to teach BM to walk. Constantly falling over. Learning to read and write. Father worked for local authority; mother hospital cook. Two brothers and sister... 00:31:26
Barry Morgan Tape 2 - Listen now
Discipline at home. Toby Twirl, Rupert the Bear, The Eagle. Mobo spinning top. Albert The Lion song. Playing in shed until it burnt down. Father's fight to send BM to mainstream school locally. Mr Howells at Greenrock ... 00:31:24
Barry Morgan Tape 3 - Listen now
Playing cricket one-handed. Woodland Hospital, Birmingham. Tonsils and adenoids operation age 9/10. Trip to Llandudno. BM and Tony Taylor picked up a lamb at Horsehoe Pass and took it on Midland Red coach (anecdote). ... 00:14:26
Barry Morgan Tape 4 - Listen now
Woodlands Hospital in Birmingham told Barry's parents that he would never walk or uses hands. Father taught him to walk by using reins and horse on wheels. Barry dragging one foot. Went to clinic every three months. Fitted ... 00:31:13
Barry Morgan Tape 5 - Listen now
Six months learning to walk with horse and reins. By seven could walk unaided. Parents did not want Barry to go to residential school (despite doctor's advice) and preferred him to go to a local school. The local authority ... 00:31:31
Barry Morgan Tape 6 - Listen now
School taught shoe repairs and carpentry. On Fridays, girls from Greyfriars School, nearby all-girls school, were invited to Barry's school Chad's School, (all boys) to take in country dancing. Barry danced with Judith Crutchley ... 00:29:39
Barry Morgan Tape 7 - Listen now
Studying ONC in Mechanical and Electrical engineering, Birmingham Polytechnic, Perry Barr. Attached by three youths, stealing his briefcase. Broke collar bone - six-week hospital stay. Away from work for 12 months. Saw ... 00:30:31
Barry Morgan Tape 8 - Listen now
Deep religious conviction. Forgive and forget his attackers. Help of family and Dad has installed belief in finding own way round things - for example, wallpaper hanging. Good investment of pension. Independence from mother ... 00:31:23
Barry Morgan Tape 9 - Listen now
Believes Disability Discrimination Act will alienate a lot of people because of expense. Transport accessibility. DDA will be of some benefit but disabled people need to get qualifications to become involved, such as a magistrate. Life ... 00:29:10
Barry Morgan Tape 10 - Listen now
Work experience - self-employed and employed. Period of being unemployed. Feeling of discrimination. Company in Warrington gave Barry a chance on repairing amusement ride after seven engineers failed. Barry employed a ... 00:31:17
Barry Morgan Tape 11 - Listen now
Parents supported Barry in being as independent as possible. Support from Barry's siblings. Travel in Britain, Canada to see brother and Australia, after 35 years. Always politely refuses offers of help ... 00:29:47
Barry Morgan Tape 12 - Listen now
inclusive education. St Chad's School in Litchfield, a Cathedral School. Left in 1959 aged 16. Got a job for 10s 6d a week. Went to Midlands Spastics Society in Harborne in 1962. Sherrards Training Centre in Welwyn ... 00:30:15
Barry Morgan Tape 13 - Listen now
chronological retrospect on what has been discussed in the interview, and more general reflections. 00:23:51
Download a transcript of Barry Morgan (PDF, 739kb)
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