Rob's Profile
Rob, Male, 33, Leamington Spa, Midlands .
- Disability: Wheelchair User
- Able to Drive: Yes
- Height: 173cm - 5' 8"
- Eye Colour: Hazel
- Hair Colour: Brown
- Ethnicity: White / Caucasian
- Occupation: Managing Director of own Events management company
About Me
I was very academic at school and achieved good exam results. I started at Warwick University studying Mechanical Engineering in 1994. Between my second and third years I fell down a cliff whilst on holiday with friends in Devon. I sustained a C5/6 incomplete spinal injury and spent 9 months in Salisbury District Hospital. I left hospital walking on crutches for short distances or using a wheelchair for longer distances. I also have very weak hands and fingers due to my injury. I went back to university and graduated in 1998. I have never received any form of compensation payment for my injuries.
I took up wheelchair rugby soon after graduating and have played in the GB Development squad and at a high level in club rugby for many years. In 2002 I started doing some wheelchair track racing and do this as a secondary sport to rugby, I have now completed about 10 half and 5 whole marathons.
While I was in hospital I became very frustrated by my weak hands and how difficult it was to do certain tasks that needed a strong grip. After leaving hospital I using my Engineering knowledge to invent the "Active Hands gripping aids". I designed these to enable me to hold heavy items and perform activities I would not be able to do otherwise including, holding hand weights, playing pool, holding a kayak paddle or skiing outriggers, holding a hammer, saw or other objects where a strong grip is needed. Once other friends with disabilities saw them in use they also wanted a pair. Therefore in 2000 the "Active Hands Company" was born. We have grown since those starting days but we are still a family run business and produce various types of gripping aids for a number of disabilities and age groups. See http://www.activehands.co.uk
In 2000 I decided I wanted to do some travelling so my best friend and I went backpacking around the world for 9 months. I completely loved the experience and since then have taken every opportunity to travel and have been on many long and short trips since then. I always travel cheaply as a backpacker, staying in Hostels and using public transport to get around, it can often be very difficult travelling in a wheelchair and on crutches but I love the challenge and have so many amazing experiences I would always choose to do things this way even if I had the money to do it in a more luxurious style. I have now been to about 35 countries including Indonesia, Australia, Cambodia, Brazil, Raratonga, Zambia, Swaziland, Bangladesh, Japan, Cuba, USA, Finland, Iceland and Zimbabwe to name just a few. I have travelled in groups, with a friend and on my own. I have travelled on my own in Brazil, Germany, Holland, Japan, Dubai, Thailand and Bangladesh all of which are very hard work with a disability. I have hand cycled in Cuba and China to raise money for Charity, travelled round the world on wheelchair rugby tour and spent a month working as a volunteer in a spinal injury rehabilitation unit in Bangladesh. Some of my experiences can be seen on http://www.backpacklife.com which is a backpacking travel website set up and run by myself and a friend.
Having always had a very keen interest in music, in 2001 I started running my own club night (called Delicatessen - a choice selection of fresh and funky flavours) at a local club. The night became very popular with over 600 people in attendance on some occasions. I organised everything from booking the venue, dj's (plus djing the events myself), extra acts, printed and other advertising information and flyer distribution. The club night ran for 4 years in the same club plus occasional trips into other clubs in the area, Coventry, Birmingham and London. I still dj (mostly still with vinyl too) today and most weeks have between 1 and 3 gigs a week. I dj Hip Hop, Funk, Soul, Latin, Reggae, Beats, Breaks, and Drum n' Bass. Due to running my club nights many people would ask me to organise their house parties and university society balls for them. In 2005 when things became a little quiet on the club night front and I wanted a new challenge I started my own events management business - Delicatessen Events. Using contacts from running my club nights the company now provides sound and lighting systems, bands, dj's and entertainers, casino tables, chocolate fountains, ice sculptures, etc, for corporate and private parties, weddings and university balls. This has been growing steadily over the last 3 years and is something I want to continue to grow and develop in the future. Please see my company website at http://www.delicatessenevents.com
Delicatessen Events was one of the 2 companies used to organise the resent huge Freya Dawson 21st birthday bash in the Cotswolds. This much publicised event including performances by Miss Dawson, Mark Ronson and Hed Kandi and took a year to organise.
I am a good communicator and love to meet new people. I am not embarrassed or shy under pressure or in group situations and I thrive on new challenges.
TV/Film, Theatre or Modelling Experience
I featured heavily in the DVD "The Tour" about the 2002 world tour between the GB development wheelchair rugby squad and an under 17's able bodied rugby squad. This DVD is available in all RFU rugby shops and was filmed by the crew who made the British lions rugby tour made into the BBC documentary "living with Lions".
I was interviewed and got down to the last few for the casting of the "Beyond Boundaries" TV series.
Often requested to do pieces to camera or explainations when local or national press come to film wheelchair rugby or other events I am involved in.
Having passed all levels of auditions I am now waiting my call up to be on "Deal or no deal"
Special Skills or What makes you Extra Ordinary?
My life experiences as a disabled person are very many and diverse. I can speak confidently, fluently and eloquently about many subjects I have had knowledge of many others may well lack. I am a very keen traveller, music enthusiast, dj and promoter and a business entrepreneur as well as a disability sports enthusiast.
I am comfortable in front of and behind a camera or microphone and I am confident and professional about getting the job done well and delivering whatever is needed. I am outgoing and interesting as a person and happy to talk about my own experiences, empathise with others and know when to talk and when to listen in interviews and group discussions.
I am versatile, love new challenges and adventures and if you decide to use me for future work you will be very happy you chose to do so.