Written by her sister Alison
Rachel was born in Corbar Hall Nursing Home in Buxton on the 21 November 1967. Mum said she knew straight away that Rachel had Down’s syndrome. I was two when Rachel was born but none the less felt an instant bond with her which remains very strong today. Mum was very keen to have another child after Rachel and two years later, our brother Matthew was born.
We had a very happy childhood growing up around extended family members in Buxton, with the countryside on our doorstep. It was never an option for Rachel to go to a mainstream school but she did attend Alderbrook Special School, which was eight miles away.
Rachel was at the school until she was 18 and then she attended the adult education centre on the same premises for a great many years. Rachel wanted to learn to swim like everyone else, but when mum tried to enrol her for swimming lessons at the local swimming pool, all the parents made it quite clear that they didn’t want Rachel in the same lesson as their child. This was a low point for my mum as up until this happening, Rachel had been greatly accepted in the local community with love and respect. Undeterred, Rachel did eventually learn to swim and did actually compete in swimming trials for the Special Olympics in Seoul. But, in true Rachel style, halfway through the race, she stopped in the middle of the pool and said she’d had enough!!
Rachel moved into assisted living when she was 35, a move that family thought would give Rachel independence and help settle her for the future. For many years, mum found Rachel moving out of the family home extremely hard and like a bereavement, as she imagined having her live at home with her and my dad for the foreseeable future, but the rest of the family felt this was the right thing for Rachel.
Rachel has always been in good health and wasn’t born with any health issues, however, when she was 30 she did start to suffer with mental health issues which presented itself as paranoia, where she thought people were laughing at her and extreme outbursts of tears and frustration. This was in complete contrast to Rachel’s happy, fun-loving disposition. After many years of trying out different medications Rachel is now calm, happier and her mood is tempered.
Rachel makes a lasting impression on everyone she meets with her fun-loving personality and great sense of humour.
She boosts everyone’s ego by telling them “you’re beautiful”, “aren’t you handsome, are you a model?” She instantly makes people laugh and they warm to her straight away. Rachel thrives on big hugs and cuddles and her family are the world to her. She loves music and dancing and keeping up to date with what’s going on in the TV soaps. Her memory is second to none and she remembers everyone’s name, including their middle names, which she makes a point of knowing.
Rachel introduces herself as ‘Blondie’, a name she’s given herself since going from a natural redhead to a blonde. Her social skills are to be admired; she always asks how everyone is doing and what they’ve been up to.
Rachel always wanted to be a mum but sadly this wasn’t meant to be. Instead she is a wonderful auntie to three nephews Oscar, Archie and Henry.
Rachel is currently a member of More Care Design Collective which is a design workshop and studio in Buxton, whose recruits are adults with learning difficulties. Rachel has an artistic flair and a desire to learn about art and design. She has been involved in many of their projects and her work has been used in their exhibitions.
Rachel and I are currently participating in the Neurodegeneration in Ageing Down Syndrome study at the University of Cambridge.