Treloar College student honoured at a beautiful evening of poetry
Treloar’s were honoured to join The Company of Communicators Poetry reading evening on Tuesday 1st December 2020. There were almost 40 members from the Company who attended, including the Lady Mayoress of the City of London, Mrs Hilary Russell who read “He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven” By WB Yeats. Other poems read were from poets as wide ranging as John Keats and Wendy Cope.
Lucinda Gillingham from Treloar’s had the pleasure of reading out Treloar College student Oscar’s poem. Oscar, is aged 19 and is a residential student at the College where he has been for almost a year. He is studying a City & Guilds NVQ Level 1 in Business and Administration. Oscar’s interests are mythology, ancient weaponry, true crime stories, his charity work, poetry and cooking. Oscar has cerebral palsy and communication challenges.
His poem is called
See through the wheelchair
For some reason people used to glare at me.
But I don’t know why, maybe it’s because of my wonky body or the fact that I am stuck in a wheelchair.
The problem is that no one asks me.
Mainly due to fear.
The fear of being rude and offensive, but I just wanna be talked to.
Disabled people also have lives and voices you know, they laugh, cry and feel pain just like you do.
But the most important thing they do.
Is that they live their lives to the fullest.
So I implore you to please see through the wheelchair.
And take care of the boy inside.
The poem was enjoyed by all who attended and the Master of The Company of Communicators, Col Deborah Oliver said “Lovely poem from Oscar – with an important message”. Some of the other comments from the participants include:
“Thank You Oscar. Fabulous!”
“That was truly moving, thank you for sharing it with us.”
“That has moved me to tears. What a talented and brave chap Oscar is.”
“Wow. A brilliant lesson from Oscar. Thank him so much for reminding us all. Very moving, thank you.”
“Well done Oscar. A fantastic poem. Such a powerful and important message.”
“Thank you Lucinda for reading Oscar’s poem. Just hauntingly beautiful and moving and we shall all take note of what Oscar says in his poem.”
All of us at Treloar’s are incredibly proud of Oscar and his very moving poem.