Harry was born with a disability in 1959 and had a series of operations on his leg and hand as a baby. In his autobiography, Out on a Limb, he describes growing up in Hampstead, North London in the 1960s, learning to walk with his metal leg, to ride a bike and to play football. In his teenage years he faced all the usual doubts about sex and self-esteem with the added awkward question of how much to tell a girl early on about his leg and whether or not secretly to take it off before getting into bed with her. Key themes in the book are the strong love and support from his family, the extra edge on the normal sibling rivalry and, most of all, the positive thinking from everyone involved to overcome the disabilities. Written in a frank and humorous style the book should offer encouragement to anyone with one leg or less and enlightenment to anyone with two legs or more.
As well as working for the National Youth Agency Harry writes a column for Able Magazine, is married to Mary and has three children Matthew, Robert and Katherine. Harry is also the author of Hear by Right, the national standards framework for participation of children and young people.
Out on a Limb is available, priced £8.95. Email: outonalimb@hotmail.co.uk.
