Terry Wiles
Encyclopedia
Terrence 'Terry' Wiles (born January 12, 1962) was one of the most disabled thalidomide
babies born in the UK. He has since become known internationally through the television drama On Giant's Shoulders and the best-selling book of the same name.
, England
, to a prostitute mother and a visiting African American
father. During her pregnancy Andrew's mother took thalidomide
to combat her morning sickness, resulting in his severe disabilities at birth.
Unable to cope, Andrew's mother put him into care. He met Leonard and Hazel Wiles at Chailey Hospital in Sussex
in October 1967, and after initial opposition from his birth mother and Social Services, Leonard and Hazel were able to adopt
the young Andrew. As part of his fresh start with his new parents, Andrew decided to change his name to Terrence Wiles.
Over the years Len Wiles, who was technically-minded and helped to design military equipment during World War II
, built a series of 'Supercars' for Terry, based on the forklift truck
, which enabled Terry to both augment his height and move around freely for the first time.
Wiles suffered a nervous breakdown due to abuse at his secondary school
Ernulf Community College in St. Neots, where on one occasion some students put him in a bag and dragged him around a room. He left the school to study at a polytechnic
.
television Play of the Week entitled On Giant's Shoulders, starring Judi Dench
as Hazel Wiles and Bryan Pringle
as Leonard Wiles. The film was based on Marjorie Wallace
and Michael Robson's book about Wiles' life of the same name published in 1976.
.
Later, Wiles met Robyn, a married nurse who left her husband to be with him. The couple faced a great deal of opposition from both families; Wiles' parents believed that Robyn was only interested in his money, the financial payout that he had received from the thalidomide manufacturers (Distillers Company). However, they married in 1991 and began to live together in Hamilton, New Zealand
. Len and Hazel Wiles severed all contact with the couple. Leonard Wiles died in 1996.
Terry and his wife continue to live in Hamilton, where Terry counsels others with disabilities. In 1997 Channel 4
filmed Terry and Robyn in New Zealand for a documentary
entitled Fight For Love.
Thalidomide
Thalidomide was introduced as a sedative drug in the late 1950s that was typically used to cure morning sickness. In 1961, it was withdrawn due to teratogenicity and neuropathy. There is now a growing clinical interest in thalidomide, and it is introduced as an immunomodulatory agent used...
babies born in the UK. He has since become known internationally through the television drama On Giant's Shoulders and the best-selling book of the same name.
Early life
Originally named Andrew, Wiles was born in PeterboroughPeterborough
Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of in June 2007. For ceremonial purposes it is in the county of Cambridgeshire. Situated north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, to a prostitute mother and a visiting African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
father. During her pregnancy Andrew's mother took thalidomide
Thalidomide
Thalidomide was introduced as a sedative drug in the late 1950s that was typically used to cure morning sickness. In 1961, it was withdrawn due to teratogenicity and neuropathy. There is now a growing clinical interest in thalidomide, and it is introduced as an immunomodulatory agent used...
to combat her morning sickness, resulting in his severe disabilities at birth.
Unable to cope, Andrew's mother put him into care. He met Leonard and Hazel Wiles at Chailey Hospital in Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
in October 1967, and after initial opposition from his birth mother and Social Services, Leonard and Hazel were able to adopt
Adoption
Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting for another and, in so doing, permanently transfers all rights and responsibilities from the original parent or parents...
the young Andrew. As part of his fresh start with his new parents, Andrew decided to change his name to Terrence Wiles.
Over the years Len Wiles, who was technically-minded and helped to design military equipment during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, built a series of 'Supercars' for Terry, based on the forklift truck
Forklift truck
A forklift is a powered industrial truck used to lift and transport materials. The modern forklift was developed in the 1920s by various companies including the transmission manufacturing company Clark and the hoist company Yale & Towne Manufacturing...
, which enabled Terry to both augment his height and move around freely for the first time.
Wiles suffered a nervous breakdown due to abuse at his secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
Ernulf Community College in St. Neots, where on one occasion some students put him in a bag and dragged him around a room. He left the school to study at a polytechnic
Polytechnic (United Kingdom)
A polytechnic was a type of tertiary education teaching institution in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. After the passage of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 they became universities which meant they could award their own degrees. The comparable institutions in Scotland were...
.
On Giant's Shoulders
Then aged 19, Wiles played himself in a 1979 BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television Play of the Week entitled On Giant's Shoulders, starring Judi Dench
Judi Dench
Dame Judith Olivia "Judi" Dench, CH, DBE, FRSA is an English film, stage and television actress.Dench made her professional debut in 1957 with the Old Vic Company. Over the following few years she played in several of William Shakespeare's plays in such roles as Ophelia in Hamlet, Juliet in Romeo...
as Hazel Wiles and Bryan Pringle
Bryan Pringle
Bryan Pringle was a British actor who appeared in television, film and theatre productions.Born in Tamworth, Staffordshire but raised in the Lancashire town of Bolton he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. In 1958, he married character actress Anne Jameson; together they had...
as Leonard Wiles. The film was based on Marjorie Wallace
Marjorie Wallace (SANE)
Marjorie Shiona Wallace CBE is a British writer, broadcaster and investigative journalist and is the chief executive of SANE, a mental health charity in the UK established in 1986.-Early career:...
and Michael Robson's book about Wiles' life of the same name published in 1976.
Recent years
After Wiles received financial compensation for his birth defects he and his adoptive parents emigrated to New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Later, Wiles met Robyn, a married nurse who left her husband to be with him. The couple faced a great deal of opposition from both families; Wiles' parents believed that Robyn was only interested in his money, the financial payout that he had received from the thalidomide manufacturers (Distillers Company). However, they married in 1991 and began to live together in Hamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
. Len and Hazel Wiles severed all contact with the couple. Leonard Wiles died in 1996.
Terry and his wife continue to live in Hamilton, where Terry counsels others with disabilities. In 1997 Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
filmed Terry and Robyn in New Zealand for a documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
entitled Fight For Love.
External links
- Website about 'On Giants's Shoulders' the 1979 film of the life of Terry Wiles
- A website about the life of Terry Wiles
- BBC 'Play of the Week' entry for 'On Giant's Shoulders' (1979)
- 'Time Magazine' review of 'On Giant's Shoulders'
- 'Leonard Wiles Is a Saint in the Workshop for Adopted Son Terry and Other Victims of Thalidomide' - article on people.com 17 March 1980