Friday, March 02, 2007

Scott Quinnell is a very Big Man.

High point of the week for me, (and by a long mile) was listening to Scott Quinnell telling us about his dyslexia experiences. This mountain of a man, still only 34 years old and looking as fit as a flea was standing before us in the old Assembly Debating Chamber. He was telling us how he used to cry after school every day because he couldn't read and write. As he was speaking, I could see standing in front of me, this pathetic little schoolboy. The emotion in the man reached me - and for a minute or two, he looked just like a vulnerable little kid. But, in truth, Scott Quinnell is one of the biggest men I have ever met - in every way.

Scott has been through a new programme deveoloped by Wynford Dore, which helps dyslexic people and has changed his life. And it has changed his children's lives as well. I heard a man who has lived my dream on the rugby field, telling us that the thrill he now gets from being able to read a book, matches anything else in his life. Its rare for a hard nosed old 'seen-it-all' like me to be stunned into a state of complete admiration - but Scott Quinnell managed it this week. I learned more about dyslexia in one rather unstuctured speech than I ever would from any textbook.

During his Dore course, Scott discovered that he had defective balance. Can you believe it? One of Wales greatest ever forwards with 52 caps with no balance! I just sat there is wonderment at what sort of a player he would have been with balance. Probably the only back row man ever, better than Ritchie Macaw.

But I have to say that Alun Cairns (who arranged the event) and Scott Quinnell, walking across the Milling Area in animated conversation was funny - reminding me of one of those wildlife films where the elephant and her calf trot along together. But thanks Alun for making my week.

1 comment:

Math's Mam said...

Hi Glyn, my son is currently on the Dore program, doing well but a long way to go yet. Just to say really it's not really that new, but I spent 1 year contemplating it, being put off by "experts" writing about how the research is flawed. In the end it was a new colleague whose daughter had improved enough to become mainstream, who made up our minds. She only wished they had found it earlier (her daughter was 13). We really need more people to come forward and be counted. We most certainly will tell all if we get the results we're are hoping for.