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Creative minds
28th April 2023
I promise you that I am not a hoarder, but in recent weeks, the various piles of stuff we have around the house for the dump or charity shop seem to have grown out of all proportion. This did mean that I have been sent on a number of errands recently in order to recycle old books and clothes. Such activity brings out significant sentimentality for perhaps a book only read once meaning that it is not an easy or indeed quick process for me. Nevertheless, it has happened and many items donated to an assortment of charity shops or taken to the dump. When I say it has happened, there is always that one book that somehow takes refuge and finds its way to the back of the boot. In my case it was a much-read Roald Dahl book. Now, I am aware that there has been recent controversy over the content and characters in his writing, but I hold him in great regard for his less well-known work that ultimately saved my twin brother’s life when he was diagnosed with hydrocephalus or ‘water on the brain’.
Dahl’s youngest son had been involved in a car accident and developed the same condition as my brother, resulting in Dahl becoming involved in the development of what became called the ‘Wade-Dahl-Till’ valve or shunt. This valve was designed by Dahl, a hydraulic engineer Stanley Wade and a neurosurgeon Kenneth Till who later became my brother’s own surgeon. My brother, along with another 3000 children benefitted from this invention. For our family, the WDT valve sits alongside the Glass Elevator and Giant Peach as a marvellous invention from the creative mind of Roald Dahl.
I share this story as we continue to work setting up the Maths School. Recent work has involved exploring the wider vision, aims and objectives for the school. Whilst we have yet to agree on a set of exact words, we hope that the school alongside all other schools in the trust will support the study, careers and life choices of every young person with the hope they explore and alleviate the challenges of human life in order to support the advancement and progress of communities and wider society.
I promise you that I am not a hoarder, but in recent weeks, the various piles of stuff we have around the house for the dump or charity shop seem to have grown out of all proportion. This did mean that I have been sent on a number of errands recently in order to recycle old books and clothes. Such activity brings out significant sentimentality for perhaps a book only read once meaning that it is not an easy or indeed quick process for me. Nevertheless, it has happened and many items donated to an assortment of charity shops or taken to the dump. When I say it has happened, there is always that one book that somehow takes refuge and finds its way to the back of the boot. In my case it was a much-read Roald Dahl book. Now, I am aware that there has been recent controversy over the content and characters in his writing, but I hold him in great regard for his less well-known work that ultimately saved my twin brother’s life when he was diagnosed with hydrocephalus or ‘water on the brain’.
Dahl’s youngest son had been involved in a car accident and developed the same condition as my brother, resulting in Dahl becoming involved in the development of what became called the ‘Wade-Dahl-Till’ valve or shunt. This valve was designed by Dahl, a hydraulic engineer Stanley Wade and a neurosurgeon Kenneth Till who later became my brother’s own surgeon. My brother, along with another 3000 children benefitted from this invention. For our family, the WDT valve sits alongside the Glass Elevator and Giant Peach as a marvellous invention from the creative mind of Roald Dahl.
I share this story as we continue to work setting up the Maths School. Recent work has involved exploring the wider vision, aims and objectives for the school. Whilst we have yet to agree on a set of exact words, we hope that the school alongside all other schools in the trust will support the study, careers and life choices of every young person with the hope they explore and alleviate the challenges of human life in order to support the advancement and progress of communities and wider society.
