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Martyn thanks villagers for kindness to ‘shaky people’
Martyn King's painting
A MAN who lives a full life despite having Parkinson’s Disease for 20 years has created a painting for a village in thanks for its support.
Martyn “Shaky” King, 65, handed over the painting on Friday at Wivelsfield Village Hall.
It was presented to the village on behalf of Parkinsons UK, of which Mr King is vice-president of the Mid Sussex Branch.
Mr King was a highly paid quantity surveyor before the effects of Parkinson’s Disease ended his career.
Determined to lead a busy life he still plays music, writes poetry, does “stand-up” comedy and promotes trying to have a positive attitude to living with chronic conditions.
Part of his humourous attitude to a condition most people would find daunting is his use of the name “Shaky”, a reference to the trembling that people with Parkinson’s Disease often have to put up with and which sometimes leads to them cruelly being ridiculed for being drunk.
Mr King, from Scaynes Hill, said: “Wivelsfield Village Hall committee asked if I would accept a commission to paint a picture of their village hall.
“I in turn thought it might be a nice gesture if I painted a picture and presented it to the village as a thank you to the village for all the support that they have given to us shaky people.
“There has been everything from collections for tours of the village Christmas lights, tickets for ‘am dram’ and supporting music fundraisers, also including Parkinson’s UK.
“In their fair day, they allow us to use the hall and the local pub, the Cock Inn, where we have our meetings, does a terrific job for us.
“The hall itself would have been a bit boring to paint, so I have painted a picture of their fair day from the perspective of being on the back of a carousel horse.”
Mr King believes doing projects like the painting has wider benefits.
He said: “The way I see it is that it’s not all bad news if people have a chronic illness. It is possible for a lot of them to have a fulfilling life and contribute to society. If you can’t do paid work there are other things you can do to help others. This promotes a feeling of self-worth and improved self-image.”
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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