Ian Stanton

Ian Stanton (1950–1998) was a British singer-songwriter and disability rights activist. He was known for his ironic lyrics about the civil rights struggle of disabled people. He was also 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.

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.

On 14 February 1994, he married Audrey Savage, a co-worker at the Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People, at Oldham Register Office. He also produced a regular Information Sheet with details of local events and contacts.

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

Invisible (I. Stanton) Chip on yer Shoulder (I. Stanton) Rollin' Thunder (I. Stanton) Remember Douglas Bader (I. Stanton) In the Meantime (I. Stanton) Talkin' Disabled Anarchist (I. Stanton) Bloody Funny Way (I. Stanton) Takin Liberties (I. Stanton) Tragic but Brave (I. Stanton) Angela (I. Stanton) Holdin' On (I. Stanton) Tap Room Boys (I. Stanton)

Not recorded as album tracks:

Poor Dear Head Over Heels Charity Knocks

Major gigs

Block Telethon, LWT Studios, London, 27 May 1990 Queens Festival Belfast, November 1991 Glastonbury Festival, June 1992 Block Telethon, LWT Studios, London 1992 Vancouver Folk Music Festival, Canada, July 1992 EUCREA Colloquium, Maastricht, November 1992 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