Description
John Davidson was a football-mad boy growing up in the Scottish Borders when, at 10 years old, his life changed.
The sudden onset of Tourette’s syndrome brought bullying, isolation and a society wholly unprepared to support him. What followed was an extraordinary journey, from hospital stays and misunderstanding to activism, an MBE and a critical acclaimed film inspired by his life.
In this warm and deeply human conversation, Davidson is joined by co-author Abbie Ross to discuss I Swear, a memoir about resilience, neurodiversity and the transformative power of human connection.
About the Authors
John Davidson
John Davidson MBE was born in 1971 in Galashiels. After leaving school without qualifications, he began work as a caretaker at Langlee Community Centre in Galashiels, where since 2002 he has also been a part-time youth worker. John was the subject of the 1989 BBC documentary ‘John’s Not Mad’ and has featured in various documentaries since, including ‘I Swear I Can’t Help It’ (2009) and ‘Tourette’s: Teenage Tics’ (2016). In 2003 he founded a Borders support group to help families of those with the condition.
In 2019 he joined the board of Tourette Scotland and works with Tourette’s Action, visiting schools, giving talks and workshops. That same year he was awarded an MBE for “his efforts to increase understanding of the condition and helping families deal with it across the country.” He has also gained international recognition for his online support.
Abbie Ross
Abbie Ross is a British author and psychotherapist. Her first book, Hippy Dinners, a funny and poignant memoir of her bohemian childhood in 1970s North Wales, has been optioned by Baby Cow, who are developing it into an 8-part television series.
Before turning to writing, Abbie had a successful career as a producer at Aardman Animations, the acclaimed studios behind Wallace & Gromit and the film Chicken Run.
Today, she divides her time between her thriving psychotherapy practice in Bristol, and her writing, and finds that the two careers complement each other perfectly.
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