Dick Harris obituary

"Under the circumstances in those days he would normally have been given up for adoption, but he was born with cerebral palsy and at the time it was difficult to place disabled children with adoptive parents. Instead he grew up at Penhurst school, run by the National Children's Home in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, and later at a Leonard Cheshire home in nearby Banbury. These were happy years but by today's standards institutional."

"In 1979, Dick took the opportunity to move to a pioneering development of flats in Camden, north London, which had been purpose-built for people with disabilities to live independently. For many of those living in the accommodation, Dick included, this was the first time they had been able to make any choices for themselves, and the first time they were in control of their own money. He spent his first week's food budget in one night in the pub."

"Around that time he became involved in voluntary groups, organising breaks for disabled people with volunteer care workers in the UK and continental Europe. It was on one of these holidays that he met Angi Donnelly, who was there as a volunteer. They married in 1981 and moved to their own flat. I was born the year after, followed by my brother, Martyn."

Dick Harris was born in Wrexham to an unmarried mother and never knew his father. He had cerebral palsy and grew up in institutional care at Penhurst school and a Leonard Cheshire home in Banbury. In 1979 he moved to purpose-built flats in Camden that enabled independent living and personal choice for the first time. He became active in voluntary groups organising holidays and care for disabled people across the UK and Europe. He met and married volunteer Angi Donnelly in 1981 and raised two children. He worked at Islington Disabled Association, the Spastics Society (Scope) and later Leonard Cheshire.

Read at www.theguardian.com