To all SIA Members

In Loving Memory

Stephen Bradshaw 24 August 1941 - 5 February 2012

It is with the deepest sadness and regret that we have to inform you of the death of Stephen Bradshaw yesterday.   Stephen died in Stoke Mandeville Hospital after a short illness.

Stephen was a founding member of SIA and, as its first Director, was a driving force behind the growth and development of the organisation.  It is no exaggeration to say that, without Stephen, we would not have the Association we have today and, thanks to him, our position of influence in the disability world.

It was Stephen’s single-minded manner and commitment that enabled the Association to grow from a small self-help group to its present position as the leading user-led organisation of and for spinal cord injured people.  His tenacity and determination ensured that those in positions of authority and influence had no alternative but to listen, and to act so that for the first time, the collective voice of spinal cord injured people could be heard.

Amongst the many movements with which he was involved was Rights Now!, of which he was Chair.  Thanks to the work of Rights Now! in its early days, we now have the Equality Act (formerly the Disability Discrimination Act) demonstrating that Stephen’s concern was not purely focussed on spinal cord injured people but the disabled community as a whole.

Self-determination was key to Stephen’s philosophy of life and when the idea of an organisation representing all disabilities in this country was first mooted, he threw his support behind it.  The British Council of Disabled People (BCODP) was born and, with fellow disabled people such as Vic Finkelstein and Mike Oliver, made a huge impact on the ability of disabled people to plan and realise their own futures, for themselves.

Stephen also spear-headed many campaigns for SCI people – including new regulations to allow us to take our NHS wheelchairs abroad (‘would we be asked to leave our NHS spectacles at home?’, he asked a flustered Dept of Health official), as well as overturning Dept of Transport regulations which required newly injured people to retake their driving tests.  He was a force to be reckoned with and, consequently, held in high esteem by Government Department officials and MPs alike.

After retirement, Stephen continued to take an active part in SIA’s Public Affairs work, acting as a Consultant and contributing his valuable advice and expertise.  His work on behalf of disabled people was recognised by HM The Queen with the award of an OBE in 1994.   Stephen will be greatly missed by his family, friends, colleagues and all those who knew this tenacious, single-minded, committed, articulate, maddening, funny and, above all, deeply inspirational man.   We send our sincere condolences to Stephen’s family on this sad loss.

Stephen's funeral will be held at 11.00am on Friday 24 February 2012 at Golders Green Crematorium, Hoop Lane, London NW11.  No flowers, but donations if wished to the Spinal Injuries Association.

Tributes to Stephen can be placed on the SIA Messageboard