PERSONAL STORIES - Derek Ashburner:
Interviewed in Portsmouth June 2008:
Different Strokes: How old are you, where were you born and how long have you been a stroke survivor?
Derek: “I’m 67 years of age, born in Darlington; a Stroke Survivor for 17 months.”
Different Strokes: What was your occupation(s) and when?
Derek: “Sales Director of a Construction Company..”
Different Strokes: Of all your experiences, which occasion or event sticks in your mind most?
Derek: “Climbing Towchal (A mountain above Tehran)."
Different Strokes: What has been your proudest moment and what was the happiest occasion in your life?
Derek: “Proudest moment – Lunch with the Queen; Happiest occasion – The 2 weddings of my daughters.”
Different Strokes: Since being disabled by your stroke, what do you hope the future will bring?
Derek: “New friends and cycling in France.”
Different Strokes: What is your favourite tipple when available and what do you usually prefer when out with friends?
Derek: “Dry white wine.”
Different Strokes: When you were active in the past, what activities did you enjoy most?
Derek: “Sailing, skiing and swimming .”
Different Strokes: Do you have any particular hobbies/activities you are still able to enjoy?
Derek: “Gardening and opera and Church membership.”
Different Strokes: Which big-screen film has entertained you most; and who was the screen actor/actress you liked most?
Derek: “Casablanca. I don’t have any particular choice of film star or actor in mind”
Different Strokes: Outside of the media of music, films and TV, whom do you admire and respect most?
Derek: “No one individual comes to mind. I’d prefer to just say that I enjoyed living in Buckinghamshire from 1977 to 2008”. (We lived in Iran from 1974 to 1977)
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