John Davidson (activist)
{{Short description|Scottish campaigner for Tourette syndrome}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox person
|name = John Davidson
|honorific_suffix = MBE
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|06|01|df=y}}{{cite web |title=Tourette's documentary 'the best so far' says inspirational John |url=https://www.bordertelegraph.com/news/15026605.tourettes-documentary-the-best-so-far-says-inspirational-john/ |website=Border Telegraph |date=16 January 2017 |access-date=8 August 2022 |language=en}}
|birth_place = Galashiels, Scotland
|education = Galashiels Academy
|occupation = Campaigner
|years_active = 1989–present
}}
John Davidson MBE (born 1 June 1971) is a Scottish campaigner for Tourette syndrome, who lives in Galashiels. At age 16, Davidson was the subject of the BBC TV documentary John's Not Mad (1989) about the manifestations of Tourette syndrome with which he lived, and a number of follow-up BBC documentaries throughout his life.{{cite news|first1=Penny|last1=Wark|access-date=25 February 2020|title=John's not mad. He's fine|newspaper=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/johns-not-mad-hes-fine-8dpsm553ljf|issn=0140-0460|via=www.thetimes.co.uk}}{{cite web|first1=Brian|last1=McIver|accessdate=25 February 2020|title=Tourette's sufferers hope film will help dispel myths of condition|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/tourettes-sufferers-hope-film-will-help-857780|date=23 May 2012|website=dailyrecord}}{{cite news|access-date=10 March 2020|title=He swears hes happier|newspaper=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/he-swears-hes-happier-2w2fdvkxw8c|issn=0140-0460|via=www.thetimes.co.uk}} He is a "nationally known ambassador for the condition", who gives talks and workshops for school pupils, teachers and police, and has organised an annual two-day residential Tourette camp for young people. In 2019 he was awarded an MBE in recognition of "his efforts to increase understanding of the condition and helping families deal with it across the country."{{cite news|accessdate=25 February 2020|title=Meeting the Queen when you've got Tourette's|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-48937211|newspaper=BBC News|date=10 July 2019}}
Biography
Davidson's condition encompasses a range of symptoms: Tourette syndrome tics including coprolalia, echolalia, sudden and violent body movements; as well as a severe form of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). At age 16 a BBC TV documentary was made about him, John's Not Mad (1989), which "became a major talking point" nationally{{cite news|accessdate=25 February 2020|title=What happened to the boy with Tourette's?|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8070740.stm|date=28 May 2009|via=news.bbc.co.uk}}—in 2004 The Times reported that "Davidson occupies a position in the psyche of 1980s schoolchildren similar to that of the Joey Deacon, who had cerebral palsy, for the kids of the 1970s. Both were the subjects of serious television programmes about their disabilities, and both promptly became the victims of nationwide playground mocking campaigns."{{cite news|date=31 March 2004|first1=Penny|last1=Wark|access-date=25 February 2020|title=John's Not Mad (E)|newspaper=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/johns-not-mad-e-969xqzp7c0x|issn=0140-0460|via=www.thetimes.co.uk}} A follow-up BBC TV documentary was made about him at age 30, The Boy Can't Help It (2002), and another, Tourettes: I Swear I Can't Help It (2009), caught up with him at age 37.{{cite web|accessdate=25 February 2020|title=BBC documentary to focus on Tourette's friendship in the Borders|url=https://www.bordertelegraph.com/news/14979849.bbc-documentary-to-focus-on-tourettes-friendship-in-the-borders/|website=Border Telegraph|date=21 December 2016 }}
After leaving school at age 16 without qualifications, Davidson has worked his whole life as a caretaker at Langlee Community Centre in Galashiels.{{cite web|accessdate=8 March 2020|title=Tourette's documentary 'the best so far' says inspirational John|url=https://www.bordertelegraph.com/news/15026605.tourettes-documentary-the-best-so-far-says-inspirational-john/|website=Border Telegraph|date=16 January 2017 }}{{cite news|first1=Stephen|last1=Khan|accessdate=25 February 2020|title=Tourette's sufferer rails against cuts|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2002/mar/03/stephenkhan.theobserver|newspaper=The Observer|date=3 March 2002|issn=0029-7712|via=www.theguardian.com}} He has also done a lot of voluntary youth work. As of 2002 he was a part-time youth leader at Loganlea Community Centre and education complex in Galashiels.
Since the broadcast of John's Not Mad, Davidson went on to become a "nationally known ambassador for the condition", "a spokesman for this previously hidden neurological disorder, campaigning to educate people about it." In 2003 he founded a Borders support group aimed at helping the families of those with the condition.{{cite web|accessdate=11 March 2020|title=Calls going out for reward for Borders Tourette's campaigner's work|url=https://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/news/calls-going-out-reward-borders-tourettes-campaigners-work-745222|website=www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk}} Working with support groups such as Tourette Scotland and national organisation Tourettes Action he has visited schools, given talks,{{cite web|accessdate=11 March 2020|title=Borderers are rewarded by the Queen in the New Year Honours List|url=https://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/news/borderers-are-rewarded-queen-new-year-honours-list-180806|website=www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk}} and held workshops on living with Tourette syndrome, and spoken to groups of police and school teachers on supporting people with the condition. He has organised an annual two-day residential Tourette camp for young people in Galashiels:
"People who feel isolated in their own town can come to Galashiels for a weekend and feel part of a like-minded tribe," said John. "They can shout as loud as they like without worrying about upsetting or offending others. Hopefully, they return to their homes in better fettle and feeling stronger and less isolated."
As of 2019 he was a board member of Tourette Scotland.{{cite web|first1=Robbie|last1=Chalmers|accessdate=10 March 2020|title=Tourette charity hope to set up local group|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/tourette-charity-hope-set-up-13890824|date=22 January 2019|website=dailyrecord}} In 2019 he was awarded an MBE in recognition of "his efforts to increase understanding of the condition and helping families deal with it across the country."{{cite web|accessdate=25 February 2020|title=Scot's Tourette's struggle to become film|url=https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/film-and-tv/scot-s-tourette-s-struggle-to-become-film-1-1106151|website=www.scotsman.com}}{{cite web|accessdate=25 February 2020|title=Sworn allegiance|url=https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle-2-15039/sworn-allegiance-1-1423534|website=www.scotsman.com}} He has also been a leading member of Borders Action Group, campaigning to save public services.
The biographical film I swear (directed by Kirk Jones) was announced in 2024, with Robert Aramayo to play Davidson.{{cite web|title=‘Rings of Power’ Star Robert Aramayo Set as Lead in Kirk Jones’ Tourette’s Biopic ‘I Swear’|url=https://variety.com/2024/film/global/robert-aramayo-kirk-jones-tourettes-biopic-i-swear-john-davidson-1236119362/}}
Films
- John's Not Mad (1989) – Q.E.D. series, by Valerie Kaye, broadcast on the BBC One. Features Davidson.
- The Boy Can't Help It (2002) – directed by Min Clough, produced by Todd Austin, broadcast on BBC One.{{cite web|accessdate=25 February 2020|title=The Boy Can't Help It (2002)|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b87b2c998|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200225194629/https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b87b2c998|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 February 2020|website=BFI}} Features Davidson and Greg Storey.{{cite news|first1=Robert|last1=Collins|accessdate=25 February 2020|title=The One to Watch: Thursday 28 May|journal=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/5393055/The-One-to-Watch-Thursday-28-May.html|date=27 May 2009|issn=0307-1235|via=www.telegraph.co.uk}}
- Tourette de France (2007) – Only Human series, broadcast on Channel 4. Includes Davidson and Keith Allen.
- Tourettes: I Swear I Can't Help It (2009) – Q.E.D. series, directed and produced by Philippa Robinson, executive produced by Todd Austin, broadcast on BBC One.{{cite web|accessdate=25 February 2020|title=BBC One - Tourettes: I Swear I Can't Help It|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00ksj56|website=BBC}} Features Davidson and Greg Storey. Features Davidson and Storey.
- Tourettes & Me (2014) – Prospect Cymru film for BBC One, catching up with John Davidson and Greg Storey 12 years on from ‘The Boy Can’t Help It’ https://dcdrights.com/catalogue/tourettes-and-me
- Tourette's: Teenage Tics (2016) – by Min Clough and Todd Austin, broadcast on BBC One.{{cite web|accessdate=25 February 2020|title=Sky l Vision – Sky's production and distribution arm|url=https://skyvision.sky.com/programme/17605/tourettes-teenage-tics|website=skyvision.sky.com}}{{cite web|accessdate=25 February 2020|title=BBC Three - Tourettes: Teenage Tics|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04ly47m|website=BBC}} Features Davidson, Storey, Angela Scanlon, Rory Brown and Paul Stevenson.{{cite web|accessdate=9 March 2020|title=What is my movie? - Item|url=http://www.whatismymovie.com/item.php|website=www.whatismymovie.com}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xseenh John's Not Mad (1989)] – documentary film at Dailymotion
- [https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xseeno The Boy Can't Help It (2002)] – documentary film at Dailymotion
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fd6qrPwmF28 Tourettes: I Swear I Can't Help It (2009)] – documentary film at YouTube
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-D2MTwErxj8 Tourettes and Me (2007)] – documentary film at YouTube
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Category:People educated at Galashiels Academy
Category:People from Galashiels
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)
Category:People with Tourette syndrome
Category:People with obsessive–compulsive disorder