Pages within the Biography section:
This section is split into two sections:
- The Words: Read about Stuart Vallantine himself;
- The Pictures: The places associated with the man himself.
The picture section
First the words, now the pictures. Within this section are photographs of the places I had been to, and those associated with myself, covered within the written biography on the previous page. These should be treated as a companion to the written composition.
Tameside General Hospital, Ashton-under-Lyne:
Darnton Road building
This was where I made my first appearance, though not within this very wing. This picture looks better than the 1970s concrete maternity ward where I emerged from three days late.
Guide Lane Clinic, Audenshaw:
Main entrance from Guide Lane
When I was regarded as "autistic" and "hyperactive", I was also tested for deafness. This was one of three clinics I visited from 1982 to 1985. Others were the Rowan House centre in Hyde and Dewsnap Lane clinic in Dukinfield.
Bolton Street Station, Bury:
Class 47 Gateshead, Rawtenstall platform
A May 1984 trip to this station and the nearby Bury Transport Museum was one trip which triggered a near lifelong obsession with the railways. The month before I went to the National Railway Museum.
Rochdale Bus Station:
View of 409 service en route to Oldham and Ashton-under-Lyne
As well as trains, 1986 saw buses becoming a major obsession, thanks to numerous outings on the 400 to Rochdale and Bury, and the 343, my favourite route, to Mossley.
Ewing School, West Didsbury:
Main entrance from Central Road
Following my Statement of Special Educational Needs, April 1986, led to my four day assessment at Ewing School. This led to three happy years in West Didsbury from January 1987 to July 1990.
Withington Baths, Burton Road:
Main entrance from Burton Road
At Ewing School, swimming was the only lesson I used to dread with a passion. Despite being ten minutes walk from the school, we were driven to the baths by coach.
Fletcher Moss Gardens, Didsbury Village:
View of the rockery
Whereas most schools have annual outings, Ewing School did weekly excursions, to boost social skills in the real world and gain awareness of their environment. Fletcher Moss Gardens was one example, in April 1987.
The People's Gallery:
Melbourne Street, Stalybridge
The birthplace of my writing group People's Performance. In June 2003, came some successful open air poetry recitals, which led to this group. Since this photo was taken, the group have moved to new premises further down the road.
Clent Parish Church:
Clent, Worcestershire
This picture was taken before a Donna Williams lecture at the nearby Sunfield School. At this talk, I read a poem chosen by herself. I was back ten months later to do a thirty minute talk on myself, supporting Wendy Lawson.
The Winter Gardens:
Sheffield, South Yorkshire
A good replacement for the 'Eggbox', taken before Donna Williams' Sheffield lecture. I opened this lecture with the composition 'Celebrating Differences', a piece which complemented her subject area.
