2 minute read
Losing the Plot
In 1847 The Charity for the Asylum of Idiots was established in London, the term ‘idiots’ meaning anyone with a learning or mental disorder, or autism.
On multiple occasions when she was in obvious distress and needed help, members of the public just walked past. tissue in the back of the eye, which is called the retina, to deteriorate. This type of eye disease is genetic – passed down from either one or both parents. My mum was diagnosed with RP at 17 and I talked to her about her experiences. While queuing in W H Smith she overheard two people talking. One said, ‘People like that should not be let out of the house.’ Another time a schoolboy at a crossing thought it was funny to keep getting in her way and refusing to let her pass. In the end he went off, laughing with his ‘mates’. And on multiple occasions when she was in obvious distress and needed help, members of the public just walked past and tried their hardest to avoid her. Bear in mind this has all taken place in the last 30 years. Such stigma needs to stop. Those living with a disability should not labeled ‘insane’ or ‘delusional’ just because they suffer with something you don’t. In the same way you shouldn’t label people as ‘freaks’ because they look different from what society deems perfection. We are perfection-obsessed. Mocking someone because they live with a deformity is unacceptable and, if you have ever done so you must stop. ‘Just ask if I need help. I can always say no.’ This is the advice my mum gave me to share with you. If you see a person with a disability in distress, without being patronizing ask if they need help. Physical disability does not mean mental disability. This is what my mum said, and your mum is never wrong. For future reference listen to her.
TILLY ROBINSON and LEONA EISSENS wonder whether the magnificent makeover of a Kentish faux chateau was really for the best.
In a corner of the Kentish countryside, with over 160 years of history to its name, stands the Lillesden School for Girls. Previously known as The Lillesden Estate, it was built during the 1850s by banker Edward Lloyd, co-founder of NatWest bank. Shortly after the First World War, this Grade II Frenchstyle chateau was converted into an all-girls private school. Its sudden closure in 1999 came as a great shock to its high-achieving pupils, who described the school as ‘too perfect to last’. With its terraced lawns, ornate windows and beautiful interior, Lillesden truly was a dreamland for its students.
After the prestigious institution closed its doors, nature started to reclaim the Gothic building. The fading redbrick walls occupied by climbing wild roses, whilst ivy obscures the arched entrances to discourage the curious. Despite this, the mysterious atmosphere still appeals to photographers and daring explorers, and has even graced an episode of Doctor Who.
