Ian Stanton (1950-1998) was a singer-songwriter and disability rights activist known for his ironic lyrics about the civil rights struggle of disabled people. He performed his music across the UK and internationally; as well as being an actor on stage and national TV. He worked at the Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People as the editor of the Coalition magazine.

Early years and family

Ian Stanton was born in Oldham in October 1950, and was educated at the local grammar school. He first worked as a printer until developing Berger's Disease in the 1970s, which led to the amputation of both his legs.^[1]

After recovering in hospital, he went to the Queen Elizabeth's Foundation for Disabled People, a rehabilitation college in Surrey, where he reportedly became the first disabled person to be expelled for his newsletter, The Tuppenny Terrible, a work that was highly critical of the college.^[1][2]

On 14 February 1994, he married Audrey Savage, a co-worker at the Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People, at Oldham Register Office.^[3][1] He had one step-son.

Work

After leaving the Queen Elizabeth's Foundation college and returning to live in Oldham, he went to New Vale House, a day centre where he established a newsletter in 1984, which was highly critical of the organization.^[1][2]

He was employed by the Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People in 1986, becoming their first Information Worker. He soon established its magazine - Coalition - which gained a national reputation for its polished coverage of disabled people's politics. The Coalition magazine was recognized in university-level textbooks and papers as a key source of knowledge for disability studies.^{[4][5][6][7][8]} He also produced a regular Information Sheet with details of local events and contacts.^[3]

He retired for health reasons in the mid-1990s and continued to edit the Coalition as a volunteer member until his death on 26 November 1998.^[3]

Music

After following a course taught by Richard Stilgoe at the Northern College, Stanton began singing at clubs around Oldham and Ashton, notably the Witchwood Live Music Pub, and subsequently went on to perform in day centres, disability arts cabarets, rallies and at mainstream events.^[9][2]

He notably performed at Glastonbury Festival, Vancouver Folk Music Festival, Edinburgh Fringe, and Cambridge Folk Festival, and toured the US with Johnny Crescendo and Wanda Barbara^[10][2]

He was a leading player at the Block Telethon demo in 1992, his set including Message from Telethon (to you) (C. Avison / I. Stanton), the lyrics of which had been written by Cathy Avison, a leading member of the Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People, who had died in the spring before the protest.^[11][2]

Archive

His family have placed 304 of his papers and artefacts, the Ian Stanton Collection, in the GMCDP Archive in the Central Library, Manchester, which exists in partnership with Archives+.^[3][12][2]

References