Brian’s story: Tall tales with a real impact
14 July 2026
Meet Brian:
- Author of The Adventures of Grandad Wheels! book series
- Began writing to amuse his grandson Charles
- Enjoys creating and performing songs
When Brian sustained a spinal cord injury following a cycling accident in 2013, his grandson Charles was just six months old. As Charles grew up, Brian wondered how to explain why his grandad used a wheelchair.
“I thought one day he might ask what had happened to me, so I decided to tell him that I’d been attacked by a lion in the jungle. Obviously, I fought it and won!”
What started as a joke soon became a story. That story then became the basis of Charlie’s Big Idea, the first book in what would become the hugely successful Grandad Wheels series.
After struggling to find a publisher, Brian decided to self-publish his first book. Through the Halifax Art Society he met illustrator Lynne Hickin, who helped bring Grandad Wheels and Charlie to life and take them out into the world.
Then luck stepped in. At the launch event for the first book, a teacher bought 60 copies and invited Brian to visit their school for a talk. The children loved the story and the teacher shared the occasion online. Soon after, other schools reached out, and one talk became many.
Now there are six books in the Grandad Wheels series and each has an accompanying audiobook, making the stories accessible to even more readers.
Over the years, Brian has visited over 200 schools and spoken to more than 40,000 children, using The Adventures of Grandad Wheels! to challenge perceptions around disability and demonstrate that people can live a full life after spinal cord injury.
Today, he has raised £101,000 for Back Up and the Spinal Injuries Association through his book sales, school visits and speaking engagements. “I genuinely thought we might raise a couple of hundred pounds – I had no idea where this would lead!”
Brian first encountered Back Up during a wheelchair skills training session at Pinderfields Hospital. “It was an incredibly helpful experience. One of the things I love about Back Up is the focus on practicality – showing somebody how to use a wheelchair with confidence really matters.”
Alongside his strong network of family and friends, he believes peer support can make a big difference after spinal cord injury. “How you feel on day one is not the same as how you’re going to feel in a year, or even three years. Speaking to others who have been where you are and come out the other side is so valuable, and they show you that life gets better.”
Recently, Brian’s remarkable journey was recognised nationally when he was shortlisted as Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year at the National Fundraising Awards. After raising a truly incredible total, this nomination celebrated over a decade of empowering children and supporting people affected by spinal cord injury.
Reflecting on this amazing achievement, Brian remains characteristically positive. “Spinal cord injury isn’t the end of the world. We may wish that it hadn’t happened to us, but I think, in some ways, I’m a better person now than I was before my accident.”
Everyone at Back Up would like to say a huge thank you to Brian for his extraordinary support over the past 13 years. Through The Adventures of Grandad Wheels!, he has raised vital funds, increased awareness, and encouraged countless individuals along the way.
If you would like to discover more about these tall tales, check out Brian’s books exclusively on the Grandad Wheels Website – happy reading!
