Centre 404’s 70th birthday bash

AN octogenarian who was recently made life president of a learning disability charity has praised it for changing people’s lives – after it celebrated its 70th birthday.

Jean Willson, 80, said the founding principles of Centre 404 have remained true to those of a group of founding parents who set it up in 1951 at a time when children and adults with learning disabilities were excluded from most public life and were deemed “uneducable”.

Ms Willson – who received an OBE for services to people with learning disabilities and their family carers – said the centre has been a lifeline for families through the decades as they fought prejudice and discrimination.

Jean Willson with daughter Victoria

Ms Willson became involved with the centre in 1970 when her second daughter, Victoria, was born with a condition called tuberous sclerosis which led to tumours growing in her brain. This meant she was unable to walk or talk.

Describing Victoria as her “motivation and inspiration”, Ms Willson said she had seen a lot of change for people with learning disabilities since Centre 404 first opened – but there was still plenty to do.

She said: “You learn to be positive. I learned the hard way by swearing and almost smacking people but anger and bitterness doesn’t get you anywhere – but there is still a lot of work to be done and the pandemic really showed us that.

“It’s the lived experience of having a daughter with learning disabilities. That lived experience never leaves you and even though she died nine years ago, I still have the passion and commitment to tell you about it, to challenge everybody about it.”

Centre 404 celebrated its 70th birthday last month with a garden party and speeches, attended by Islington North MP Jeremy Corbyn.