Black-belt granddad KOs ill health
A MAN who has suffered nu- merous health problems has be- come a karate black belt – at the tender age of 74. Don Parvin has just been
voted ‘student of the year’ by his fellow shukokai enthusiasts. “It's all in the mind”, joked Don, who trains at Downswood Com- munity Centre, and is now of- fering to give fellow pensioners fitness and exercise tips. His coach Archie Grassom
said: “Don's been through a lot of hard times but he has stuck in there. He’s incredible.” Don has battled various ail- ments. In recent years, he: has taken chemotherapy
capsules for a leukaemia-type blood disorder since 2004 had a knee replacement in 2006 suffered a collapsed lung in 2008 had four more heart stents inserted
in 2010, making five in all had 27 stitches in his chest after a
skin cancer operation this year. Amid all this, in 2007, father-of-four
Don took up karate as he was so im- pressed with the coaching Archie had given his two grandchildren, Tom (15) and Josie (11), who live in Chart Sutton and started the sport at Boughton Monchelsea Primary School. The following year, Archie taught
Don controlled breathing techniques after his lung collapsed. Archie said: “His breathing has completely changed. It's given him a new zest.” Don, who lives in Lordswood, said: “I
Karate kid! Don Parvin with his 'tro- phy' – two samurai swords mounted on a wooden frame – for beingtop student.
Academy success for James A CHARCOAL drawingby local artist James Allen has been selected for the Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition. James, from Platts Heath,
have nothing but praise for Archie. I rate him very highly.” He added: “I have always kept fit. I
did judo and boxing as a schoolboy and in the Army. “I have done yoga for a long time. I
think karate helped me cope with some of my problems and to get a good level of fitness. Don, who taught welding until he
was 72, said: “I personally think it would help a lot of people and I would be prepared to go to old folks' homes to teach them fitness and movement, as gentle or energetic as they wanted or are capable of. It would get them up and moving.” Grandson Tom, a pupil at Oakwood
Park Grammar School, is, like Don, a 1st dan black belt. Tom's father, Gra- ham, is a 2nd dan – making it a rare three-generation achievement.
near Lenham, said: “The exhi- bition is the largest and oldest open-submission exhibition in the world and receives more than 11,000 applications each year. It is a rigorous selection process, so this is hugely excit- ingfor me.” His exhibit – one of several studies of Embankment Under- ground station – is part of a se- ries focusingon the entrances and exits to train stations. The drawingwas snapped up on buyers’ day. James, an art technician at Sutton Valence School, said: “Charcoal is the perfect medium for reflectingthe industrial landscape of stations.” Prince Charles has one of James’ drawings in his personal collection.
Lawyer and family hurt in accident Continued from page one
lacerations and bruises, said: “It is thought the horse was stung by a bee or wasp and took off at such speed the driver totally lost control. “It galloped down the road right on to a busy and
fast main road and the car driver had no chance of avoiding us. “There was a tremendous impact on my side of the carriage and we were thrown all over the place. I was knocked unconscious and remember no more until I woke up in hospital. I think we were lucky all to survive.”
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