The year got off to an exciting start with hours of filming booked in my diary by the BBC to make a 30 minute documentary calledThe Trumpet man to be based amazingly on my life pre- and post- accident. Shooting finished in Miami where we landed just before Easter for my regular 18 monthly visit for treatment.

Before filming ended a newly aquatinted friend delivered a sophisticated custom built synthesised instrument that I can operate by blowing into a laptop computer. I had 90 minutes to understand it and get a tune out of it before its dŽbut. This has given me another satisfying form of musical expression, which has great potential.

Late spring I received a one off contract to look at one of Newcastle's old public buildings from the angle of access for everybody, including with differing disabilities. We looked at various difficulties from travelling to and from such a building to, attitudes of employees, facilities and difficulties getting around the building to producing literature in helpful formats. I learned a lot from this project which was both physically and mentally challenging. I am still very involved and enjoying my education work with the Northern Sinfonia Orchestra along with teaching and coaching brass students now from Newcastle and Durham University.

On the health front, keeping busy and active helps to keep me fit. Regular daily physio with my carers is still improving some of my upper body muscles and I am visiting a Newcastle hospital where the staff are working with me to re-develop my unparalysed internal stomach muscles. My biofeedback treatment continues in the States with my next visit due late autumn 2003.

I'd like to choose two more highlights from 2002. One involved some modelling work which came out of the television programme. This included wearing appropriate dress, driving my chair on to a set and pulling all sorts of faces whilst the cameras flashed away. I'm not sure who was fooling who!

The other highlight was a visit I did to a prison. It was requested that I speak to some prisoners about my faith and disability. It was a bleak, wintry night when I arrived and I was full of all sorts of emotions – including fear. Meeting the prisoners and sharing with them has enriched my life. The time I spent with them flew by and I was soon being informed by a warden that I needed to depart because the gates were soon to be locked for the night.

The Clarence Adoo Trust has had an effective year fund raising again towards this year's high treatment and equipment expenses. I want to thank you most sincerely for your support be it encouragement, prayers or financial which I don't take for granted.

I look forward to catching up with you during a peaceful, happy and blessed 2003 Love Clarence