A professional musician and photographer who spent ten months in hospital paralysed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, is to stage a musical comeback in his home town of Bishop Auckland.
Phil Graham, lead singer with folk rock band, Man With The Stick, developed the debilitating and life changing illness in October 2013.
Paralysed from the neck down Mr. Graham was admitted to James Cook University Hospital until he was well enough to be discharged – confined to a wheelchair, in August the following year.
Although still partially disabled, and following weeks of extensive physiotherapy as an outpatient at Bishop Auckland General Hospital, Phil is now able to get around on sticks and crutches sufficiently well to resume his musical career. And to welcome him back to recovery, the owners of Park Head Country Hotel in New Coundon, are hosting a traditional Irish Night of live music at which Man With The Stick will perform.
“I have played guitar, mandolin and Irish bouzouki all my adult life”, said Phil. “But I have been left with limited feeling in my hands so playing instruments is out of the question for now.”
The band have appointed another guitarist and Phil has become the lead singer.
Phil jokes, “Because of my illness, my fellow band members now say that we have become Man With ‘Two’ Sticks.”
Mrs. Caroline Pedley from the hotel said, “We are really pleased to see Phil making a good recovery and are delighted to host the Irish Night to hear him again. We remember Man With The Stick when they performed here before Phil’s illness, and it is great to have them back.”
The event, a pre-celebration of the following week’s, St. Patrick’s Day, is taking place on Friday 13th March with traditional Irish food being served at 7.30pm, followed by live Irish music from 8.15pm. Entry is by ticket only at £7.50, available for collection or to reserve from the hotel reception on 01388 661727.
Bishop Auckland's local community newspaper.
