London’s Anthony Hamilton, 68, retired Army Captain and severe stroke survivor, shows how to keep giving back to society despite disability, thanks the WHILL C2 electric wheelchair.
Anthony is remarkable. A retired Army Captain who at 68, still works in intelligence but now in civvy street AI and not on the frontline. After serving around the world Anthony settled back in Whitehall and near his military roots. A respected veteran whose life was stopped suddenly by a severe stroke in the bath. He survived 4 days alone before the alarm was raised. Against all the odds he survived and is now ‘very much thrilled to be alive’. His TGA WHILL C2 is a big part of that. The enablement it gives Anthony around London ‘is extraordinary.’ Disability has not defeated him.
Being in the Grenadier Guards means a lot to Anthony and rightly so. Watching the recent Coronation was emotional and brought back memories of days on parade. His WHILL allows him to see old service pals to share good times and to support one another when poignancy takes over. “Thanks to my TGA powerchair I was able to travel to Winchester Cathedral for the memorial service of my late friend Field Marshal Lord Brammal. I met with so many people I knew. I drove to Waterloo in my WHILL and then caught the train. Superb service, I had to give them 24-hour’s notice but there were people to help on both platforms. Back in London I’ve been able to meet the Generals I know and close friends from officer training days. Without my WHILL I couldn’t do this.”
To have served for king and country is huge, but that’s not the whole story for Anthony. He now volunteers and fundraises for charities despite impaired mobility and speech. National Brain Appeal and Under One Sky, the homeless charity, both benefit from his charisma and contacts. He helps feed vulnerable people in Holborn and Covent Garden and is also currently raising money for Ukraine – made possible by his independence.
But back to basics for a minute. How’s daily life easier these days? Anthony’s WHILL has all the answers here as well. “It has made a huge difference to my life. At home it fits in the lift, and I can charge it in my apartment on the 4th floor. As it helps me conserve energy my rehab is going well – I can now walk up and down stairs with side handrails. My powerchair copes with tight corners and gets me in coffee shops, restaurants, museums, art galleries, pubs and even wheelchair accessible building sites.”
“On special days I have taken it to Kew Gardens and fundraised at RHS Chelsea Flower Show. This was made possible using trains, buses and black cabs; the WHILL fits into all of them. When I first tested its full range, I completed the stated range of 11 miles no problem. My carers can’t believe how amazing it is, especially that it turns on its own axis. It’s a total game changer for me.”
So, what next? It’s the Royal Parks Half Marathon in Oct and then in 2024 it’s the big one for Anthony, the London Marathon. With carers ready to push, he’s on a mission to raise as much money as he can in a StrongBack wheelchair, loaned by his fans at TGA, of course.
You can support Captain Anthony on his JustGiving page here
