Ian Stanton (1950-1998) was a singer-songwriter and disability rights activist known for his ironic lyrics about the civil rights struggle of disabled people. He performed his music across the UK and internationally; as well as being an actor on stage and national TV. He worked at the Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People as the editor of the Coalition magazine.
Early years and family
Ian Stanton was born in Oldham in October 1950, and was educated at the local grammar school. He first worked as a printer until developing Berger's Disease in the 1970s, which led to the amputation of both his legs.[1]
After recovering in hospital, he went to the Queen Elizabeth's Foundation for Disabled People, a rehabilitation college in Surrey, where he reportedly became the first disabled person to be expelled for his newsletter, The Tuppenny Terrible, a work that was highly critical of the college.[1][2]
On 14 February 1994, he married Audrey Savage, a co-worker at the Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People, at Oldham Register Office.[3][1] He had one step-son.
Work
After leaving the Queen Elizabeth's Foundation college and returning to live in Oldham, he went to New Vale House, a day centre where he established a newsletter in 1984, which was highly critical of the organization.[1][2]
He was employed by the Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People in 1986, becoming their first Information Worker. He soon established its magazine - Coalition - which gained a national reputation for its polished coverage of disabled people's politics. The Coalition magazine was recognized in university-level textbooks and papers as a key source of knowledge for disability studies.[4][5][6][7][8] He also produced a regular Information Sheet with details of local events and contacts.[3]
He retired for health reasons in the mid-1990s and continued to edit the Coalition as a volunteer member until his death on 26 November 1998.[3]
Music
After following a course taught by Richard Stilgoe at the Northern College, Stanton began singing at clubs around Oldham and Ashton, notably the Witchwood Live Music Pub, and subsequently went on to perform in day centres, disability arts cabarets, rallies and at mainstream events.[9][2]
He was a leading player at the Block Telethon demo in 1992, his set including Message from Telethon (to you) (C. Avison / I. Stanton), the lyrics of which had been written by Cathy Avison, a leading member of the Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People, who had died in the spring before the protest.[11][2]
His family have placed 304 of his papers and artefacts, the Ian Stanton Collection, in the GMCDP Archive in the Central Library, Manchester, which exists in partnership with Archives+.[3][12][2]
Discography
Ian Stanton, Shrinkin' Man tape cassette, 1989, self-released
Shrinkin' Man (I. Stanton)
Chip on yer Shoulder (I. Stanton)
We've Got Each Other (I. Stanton)
S.O.S. (I. Stanton)
Lady's Chamber (I. Stanton)
Someone Said (I. Stanton)
Sweet Reason (I. Stanton)
Tap Room Boys (I. Stanton)
Talkin' Disabled Anarchist (I. Stanton)
Money Talks (I. Stanton)
Ian Stanton, Freewheelin' tape cassette, 1992, self-released
A Bloody Funny Way (I. Stanton)
Foot Fetish Blues (I. Stanton)
Remember Douglas Bader (I. Stanton)
If I Could Talk to You (R. Crombie)
Tragic but Brave (I. Stanton)
Story (I. Stanton)
The Glee Club (I. Stanton)
Angela (I. Stanton)
Message from Telethon (to you) (C. Avison / I. Stanton)
Pushin' 40 (I. Stanton)
Ian Stanton, Rollin' Thunder CD, 1995, Stream Records
Disabled and Proud Celebration, Minneapolis USA, August 1993
Cambridge Folk Festival, 1996 Plus:
The Restricted Growth Convention, Manchester, 18 October 1997, where Ian said he felt very honoured to be asked to perform at this event.
Drama, actor
Dog's Dinner, theatre play written Anne Dodd, Derby, October 1997
Holby City, series 1 episode 2, "Happy Families", first broadcast 19 January 1999, recorded 11 and 21 October 1998, [working title: Surgical II], with end-credit memorial to Ian.
Documentary TV, featuring
BBC TV, One in Four, 1990
Channel 4, Link programme, 1993
BBC2 TV, Over the Edge, 1993
Journalism and editing
The Tuppenny Terrible, Queen Elizabeth's Foundation for the Disabled (rehabilitation college)
New Vale House (day centre) newsletter, 1984-1988
Coalition magazine, Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People, 1986-1998
References
^ abcdShakespeare, Tom (November 1998). "Ian Stanton Obituary". The Guardian.
^ abcdefSource: The Ian Stanton Collection, GMCDP Archive
^Gary L. Albrecht, Katherine D. Seelman, Michael Bury (2001). Handbook of Disability Studies.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Finkelstein, V. (2007). The 'social model of disability'and the disability movement. Centre for Disability Studies, University of Leeds.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^Beresford, Peter (2000). "What Have Madness and Psychiatric System Survivors Got to Do with Disability and Disability Studies?". Disability & Society. 15 (1): 167–172. doi:10.1080/09687590025838. ISSN0968-7599. S2CID143708065.
^Barnes, C. (2003). "Effecting change: Disability, culture and art". Finding the Spotlight Conference. Vol. 28. p. 31.
