Personalities within the Association

We have interviewed a few of the 'personalities' within ALS, asking each of them the same questions, some lighthearted and others more serious. We will put up these interviews from time to time and hope you enjoy getting to know a few more people 'behind the scenes' at the Association of Lipspeakers.

Co-ordinator of the East Anglia Regional Group

Q. What time do you usually wake in the morning?

Olive: I have to be honest and say that I rarely actually wake up in the morning. Either I stagger out of bed to let one of my dogs out or leap out whilst still asleep to stop my 9 month old dog stealing something from my dressing table. He has me well trained in this respect as he knows it prompts a reaction. I then stagger into the kitchen and try to stretch myself into a vertical position. This could be any time between 6 and 8 am.

Q. Pick five words that best describe you.

Olive: If I say I am a Gemini people might know what I mean. I am a good communicator if you will pardon the expression. I can do several things at the same time, whilst thinking about something else. So I am quite industrious. I am innovative, restless, can be a bit bossy, but kind hearted. There you have six!!!

Q. If you could have a one-to-one with anyone (living or dead) who would you choose?

Olive: I think Leonardo Da Vinci, a man before his time. Such amazing vision and so talented in so many areas.

Q. Who, or what, has changed your life for you?

Olive: I can't really point to any one thing or person that has made me think WOW! My life is changing from here on. Life kind of evolves. We come to certain cross roads and decide on a path. Sometimes we end up a dead end alley and we have to turn back. Deep stuff!!

Q. What activities do you find most enjoyable ?

Olive: Now that my kids have grown up and moved on the thing I enjoy doing most is walking through the fields with our three dogs, two setters and a retriever, no matter what the weather. It is excellent for untangling the brain. In the same way I enjoy gardening. I am quite sociable so I like having friends to stay and entertaining. Going to rock concerts - nothing like a good rock, also the ballet. So you see I am a person of many tastes - a Gemini you see!

Q. What are the most frustrating aspects of communication for you?

Olive: Not being able to make yourself understood, not being able to understand, missing out, being thought to be stupid, not being able to join in, not being able to contribute when you know you have something to give. Having to always be patient. It takes too long!

Q. What would be your Desert Island Discs luxury?

Olive: Some opera when I want to meditate, and definitely rock/pop. I am so unsophisticated. Something I can jig or jog around to - Bryan Adams, The Stones, Pet Shop Boys, Beautiful South, Eurasure and so on…..I could have a lorry load delivered with my wind up compact disc player.

Q. What would you most like to see ALS achieve?

Olive: To really raise the profile of the needs of people with other kinds of communication support needs apart from sign language. Definitely for lipspeaking to be on the same footing as aign language interpreting. So that people automatically ask to book a lipspeaker if they are booking a sign language interpreter whether or not anyone has requested one. It should be automatic for meetings, conferences etc. We will get there!!

Olive, thank you so much!

Olive Young was interviewed by Lynne Dubin, June 2002.