"My introduction to swimming was hydrotherapy as part of my rehabilitation having caught polio aged 3. I started to take part in swimming galas at 6. Over the next 10 years with support from my family and 2 physiotherapists, I was selected for my first international games at the age of 16, the Paralympic games held in Germany in 1972. It was the first of 4 Paralympics and a number of International games I was selected for over the next 12 years. Later I became involved with the management side of sport for disabled people in a voluntary capacity at both local and national levels. My professional life was mainly spent working with and for disabled people as a teacher, as part of my work in a YMCA as an access officer, advisor, consultant and trainer around equalities and disability issues."