A COUNCILLOR who suffers from cerebral palsy has taken to a surf board to repay a debt to his local swimming pool.

Robert Arckless, 50, who serves Amble at county, district and town council level, had an accident when he was a toddler in which he suffered a brain haemorrhage and was left with paralysis.

As he has got older, his mobility worsened and he requires crutches to walk.

Two and a half years ago, he attended lessons at the town’s Granary pool to overcome a terror of swimming, which he says increased his mobility and confidence.

To repay pool staff, he decided to raise money to help them with a cause close to his heart – much-needed improvements which will open up the facility to people with more severe disabilities than himself. And boosted by his swimming exploits, Robert, who lives at Anne Crescent, opted to do so by learning to surf – sending out a message that it is possible for disabled people to get involved in sport.

He attended a series of lessons with local instructor John Nolan at Druridge Bay, culminating in a ‘surf challenge’ last Saturday.

Robert, who needs his crutches just to get to the water at Druridge, completed his task successfully.

He said: “Getting into the water is a challenge, never mind anything else.

“My walking is restricted, my mobility is restricted, so that in itself was a considerable challenge.

“If the tide is too far out, it is a long walk for me, it is a challenge.

“The weather was absolutely superb, the surf was absolutely right.

“Everything just came together, it was astonishing really. I certainly enjoyed myself.

“You have no idea what a buzz it was.

“It was absolutely fantastic, I felt wonderful.

“It meant a tremendous amount to me to be able to do this.”

Robert set himself a target of raising £1,600 to help the pool provide a changing table for people who cannot dress themselves and a specialist hoist, as the present one is not suitable for people who cannot sit up unaccompanied.

He has reached that total through sponsorship, but hopes to collect more to help the pool with insurance and maintenance costs.

Robert said: “I am somebody with a disability who has struggled for years to become a more confident swimmer and the Amble pool has helped me tremendously to do that.

“I am quite convinced my mobility problems would have been far worse if it was not for the swimming.

“It has made a huge difference. I have been told that.

“The surfing has just been totally different, something I never expected I would be able to do.

“It has been quite an experience.

“Without the support of the swimming staff, the surf challenge would not have been possible.

“The pool staff have been absolutely brilliant, but I could not have done any of the surfing without John Nolan, he has been absolutely brilliant.”

John, who runs Northside Surf School, was just as proud of his pupil.

He said: “He was fantastic, nothing fazed him.

“ We have been out previously and Mother Nature has thrown everything at us.

“He has still been out and enjoyed it. He still has a smile on his face.”

Source: http://www.journallive.co.uk