AGAINST HEAVY ODDS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 29 November 1924, Page 5

AGAINST HEAVY ODDS.

STUDENT WITHOUT HANDS.

EXAMINATION SUCCESSES

FORMER AUCKLAND BOY

SYDNEY, Nov. 19. One of the candidates at the leaving certificate, or matriculation examination here, is an unfortunate, but plucky New Zealand lad named Clyde Redshaw, for whom much sympathy is felt. Despite his severe handicap he is battling on with the intention of qualifying as a solicitor. Both plyde Redshaw’s forearms were amputated in a railway accident at Huntly 12 years ago. He writes now with the pencil firmly clasped between the stumps. He can also write by holding the pencil in his mouth. For 12 years that has been his daily lot, but he does not complain. He is fighting his lone battle against terrible odds with a smile on his face, and he means to win out. Two years ago, at the Wollongong High School, he passed his intermediate examination, gaining four B passes and one A. Now the hoy is sitting for the leaving certificate. Having gained that — and his teachers say that he will come through with flying colours — Clyde hopes to start work in a solicitor’s office as an articled clerk.

Artificial arms have been bought for him, but they pained him so much that he was forced to abandon them. The only concession that Clyde asks of the world is that it will accept his examination papers written in pencil, as he cannot wield a pen. It has been granted.