Roger Belson 1949-2011

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Created on Tuesday, 10 January 2012

My uncle died recently. I felt privileged to have had him in my family as he was an extraordinary man in many ways.

Our lives had a deep point of connection – he was in a near fatal car crash in 1989 as I was in 2004. However, as a result he suffered from tetraplegia while I am lucky enough to be able to walk. Whether, like me, his interest in the wider benefits of technology grew as a result of his accident I am not sure but I did see first hand what a staggering difference it could make to his life. He never let what had happened to him dominate how he approached the world. Despite his physical challenges he became a county councillor in Oxfordshire where he lived and ended up on the Cabinet. He was also a Director of Regain, a charity helping other peope facing tetraplegia who want to enjoy more independence.

We talked often about how the Internet and access to technology enabled people who could feel very isolated to feel more engaged and able to cope. We also talked often about how to nuke cumbersome paper from organisations and replace it with much more efficient digital distribution. He would wade through boxes of paper in order to conduct his council business. For years, he had a special attachment made by Stoke Mandeville that enabled him to slowly hit the keys of his pc. It must have been frustrating but I am sure he rarely complained and instead delighted in the fact he could Skype his beloved 7 grandchildren and 2 daughters and buy surprise presents for his wife, my aunt Dido – activities that would have been impossible for him through any other means.

However, it was the launch of the iPad that led to a dramatic improvement in access – quite by fluke he had enough movement in the knuckle of his little finger to be able to use it completely unaided and the app driven screen was perfect for his needs. He loved it and the services, games and news it provided.

Long before I founded Race Online 2012, he showed me that the internet was not just a fabulous tool for selling last minute holidays, but when I started the campaign he reiterated to me how vital it is that everyone is given the opportunity to benefit from the internet.

Race Online 2012 is a rallying cry to help millions more use the internet but it is also, I hope, a spotlight on how very deeply individual lives can be transformed. I am delighted to be a patron of AbilityNet, that helps many disabled people to use technology, and I am so happy to have known this brave man, Roger Belson.</p