F E AT U R E
The
Baroness of
Teesside
A legendary Paralympian and passionate Parliamentarian,
Tanni Grey-Thompson talks to Tees Life co-editor Dave Allan
over tea alongside the Tees Barrage
PI C T U R E S BY M A RT I N WA L K E R
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powerful and valid voice for those with disabilities.
t’s hard to know where to start when attempting to
As we chat in a café close to the Tees Barrage, she
define the multi-medal winning Paralympian, House
explains: “My dad always told me how privileged I was,
of Lords cross-bench peer, motivational speaker and
not in a financial sense but in the way that my parents
broadcaster whose full title is Baroness Grey-Thompson
fought for me and didn’t allow anyone to treat me less
of Eaglescliffe in the County of Durham. But to family,
favourably because I was in a wheelchair. He also drilled
friends and all who’ve followed her incredible journey
into me that you’ve got to put something back. He was
she is best known as simply Tanni Grey-Thompson.
hugely proud of my sports career
Born with spina bifida, she
but eventually said ‘Now it’s time
became a wheelchair racer
“I’m conscious that,
to get serious and do a proper
extraordinaire, a rare talent
through being in sport and job’. I’m conscious that, through
combined with a stubborn will
being in sport and politics,
power helping her to overcome all
politics, people do listen
do listen when I say stuff,
obstacles to become one of Britain’s
when I say stuff, so I think people
so I think it’s important that I do.
most successful Paralympians of
it’s important that I do.”
“People should not be treated
all-time, winning no fewer than
differently because they’re in a
16 golds during an outstanding
– TANNI GREY-THOMPSON
wheelchair or because they’re an
sporting career.
amputee. From a personal point
Having retired from competitive
of view, I’m treated in three different ways – either as
sport, the Welsh wonder-turned-Teessider has switched,
an ex-athlete, which is generally very nice. I’m treated
seemingly effortlessly, to the world of politics, gaining
in a different way as a Parliamentarian – people either
a reputation for speaking bluntly about the subjects she
love me or hate me – and if I’m just treated as a disabled
holds dear.
person that’s the worst treatment I get.”
Asked to describe herself, she answers with a
She then tells the story of the most judderingly
disarming honesty: “Stubborn and wilful. I have an
shocking example of such treatment. “When I was about
opinion on everything though I don’t think most of that
eight months pregnant, some random woman in the
opinion should be public. I think it’s important to care
street stopped me and asked ‘Are you pregnant?’ When
but I’m really conscious that the public doesn’t need to
I told her I was, she said ‘People like you shouldn’t have
hear my every waking thought. I’m also determined and
children’.”
I think I’m fair.”
Sadly, this wasn’t a one-off incident, as Tanni reveals:
In her role as a Parliamentarian, she has campaigned
“We get some people finger pointing, while referring to
widely on such weighty issues as welfare reform, assisted
‘People like you.’ So my response is usually ‘People like
suicide, accessibility and equality.
me? Oh, you mean Welsh people?’ I try to use a sense
Articulate, headstrong and driven by a strong sense
of humour because I’ve got a short fuse. I try very, very
of justice, Tanni clearly believes passionately in standing
hard not to shout at people because that doesn’t change
up for the oppressed minorities. She is a particularly
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