Against All Odds: The Carlson House Legacy

At 76 years of age David, assisted by his Biographer, Shirley Thompson, recalls the “ups and downs’ of his life as a paraplegic, with the humour and intelligence that have enabled him to cope with all manner of daunting situations! At the end of World War II philanthropist Paul Cadbury established a pioneering centre of excellence for disabled children, in Harborne, Birmingham, known as Carlson House School. The Foreword, by Anna Southall, Paul Cadbury’s granddaughter, includes a photo of her aunt, ("Gretty’), Paul Cadbury’s disabled daughter, whose condition provided a fortuitous catalyst for Carlson House, for the long-term benefit of others. Although a significant part of the story takes place in Kings Heath, Harborne, Edgbaston and other areas of Birmingham, this is also a broadly-based book. Friends and Health Care Professionals provide thought-provoking insights into, not only David’s life, but physical impairment in general.