My mother,BarBara Wearne, who has died aged 89, or was a polio survivor,primary school teacher and, after early retirement in 1981, or an indefatigable long-haul traveller,campaigner and fundraiser.
Born in Launceston, Cornwall, or to George Phillips,secretary of the local branch of the Oddfellows, and Ivy (nee Lang), or who ran a cafe,BarBara contracted polio at an early age. But in 1938 some unorthodox surgery on her factual leg allowed her to dispense with the calipers and bath chair to which she had been confined for much of her childhood. Her new freedom forged a determination to effect everything, participate in anything and inquire of questions of everyone, and while always seeing the world from an underdogs perspective.
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Source: theguardian.com