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Programme notes: If you are looking to add notes for a programme to support Clarence, he has written some material for you. See it here. |
A personal view of a friend You couldn't hope to meet a nicer person than Clarence, but what has happened to him has tested him greatly |
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In August 1995, he was driving from Newcastle to Shoeburyness (Essex) to be at his brother's stag party. For some unknown reason, his car went out of control and turned over. He broke his neck and became paralysed from the neck down. Thanks to his trumpet playing, he has a strong diaphragm and can breathe without the aid of a machine. He can also think and speak. But that's about all. He needs constant care and special equipment. But isn't that what insurance is for? Clarence was insured with a well-known company who proved to be comfortless and useless in this disaster. They refused to pay out because he had not lost a limb. The fact that he had lost the use of all his limbs did not count. At least if he'd only lost a leg he could carry on his career reasonably well, and have a fair sum of money. In June 1996 he left hospital and moved in to a specially adapted house. The most important part of his care is physiotherapy. However, because he is no longer an in-patient, and because he is not about to start walking, physiotherapy has been refused. Yet despite all this, Clarence feels no bitterness and apportions no blame. His faith in God has kept his inner self at peace and his friends are raising money to see to his temporal needs. As well as the normal expenses of living that we all have, Clarence needs £100,000 a year, mostly for 24-hour care cover. There are also capital expenditure items. The measly income from the State will not go far towards meeting Clarence's needs. The Clarence Adoo Trust has been formed to fund the shortfall.
Picture of Clarence by kind permission of the Evening Chronicle, Newcastle-upon-Tyne Page Last Updated: |
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Clarence is a professional musician—a trumpet
player. He has worked with such orchestras as the Bournemouth Symphony
Orchestra and the Northern Sinfonia, where he was sub-principal trumpet.
He has toured with Sheila Walsh and played with Cliff Richard. He is also
a Salvation Army Bandmaster* (now honorably retired), renowned for
his cornet solos. He was also an accomplished pianist and valued music
teacher. He gained popularity everywhere he went. I have known Clarence
for the best part of his life. I have never known him to be bitter or to
say anything derogatory about anybody. 
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