Ex-Mayor Audrey in fight for life
6/12/2007
A FORMER Lord Mayor of
Councillor Audrey Jones, who helped to co-found the South Manchester Reporter in the 1970s, has been diagnosed with cerebellar atrophy, a rare progressive condition with symptoms likened to motor neurone disease.
She said: “It’s like a death sentence with no respite.”
Accompanied by her husband Ray, the mother of four grown-up children will fly to China on January 9 where 30 days of treatment in hospital at Qingdao, east of the Chinese capital Beijing, is due to begin the following day.
When Coun Jones, who lives on
“I had a cataract operation before my term in office after which my eyes didn’t seem to work together, making it difficult to read,” she said.
“While I was Lord Mayor my attendants knew I had difficulty with co-ordination because I couldn’t walk up or down steps unless they held my arm, but we managed and it was not obvious to anyone else that there was something wrong with me.
“When they finally put a name to my condition I was shocked and depressed because there is no cure.
“The doctor at Manchester Royal Infirmary said I would need stem cell treatment but it would not be ready in this country in my lifetime.
“The worst aspect is that, over time, I will lose all voluntary movement. My doctor says it is progressing slowly, but I don’t think so. When I was diagnosed a year ago I could walk. Now I can only do so with great difficulty, holding on to someone.”
Her daughter Helen, who had been Lady Mayoress when Coun Jones was first citizen, was sent a newspaper article by her mother-in-law in
“I contacted the chap in the article and he put us in touch with the Chinese authorities,” said Coun Jones.
“It may not work for me,” she added ruefully. “And if it doesn’t work, that’s my last chance. But I have to be optimistic.”
Coun Jones has begun the process of resigning her council seat in the city’s Withington ward, which she has held for almost 30 years.
She was
“That was a tough time,” she said.
Before becoming Lord Mayor she had sought nomination for the post more than a dozen times, determined each year to challenge Labour’s monopoly of the position. Eventually a proportionality deal was struck in 2002 and Coun Jones at last realised her ambition.
She chose not to return to her profession in pharmaceutical research after raising her family but instead co-founded the South Manchester Reporter as a community newspaper in the late 1970s. It is now owned by the Guardian Media Group.
http://www.southman
Above is the video lick to watch the interview with her.
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