ARMLESS BUSINESSMAN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4409, 1 February 1930, Page 4

ARMLESS BUSINESSMAN.

N.Z. BOY IN SYDNEY.

Tn the Sydney Daily Guardian of January 7tli, appears the following article: —

At Moore Park in a shop on the corner of Fitzroy and Henderson Streets, a young' man, deprived of both arms, is running a business .without any assistance whatever, and making a success of it.

Tie is Clyde Redsha.w, 23-years-old sport, student, and business man.

He is an old Fort Street boy. He went there after schooling at Wollongong, Hamilton, and Huntley on the Waikato river in New Zealand. It was at Huntley on his first day at school that he met with a terrible accident, which meant the amputation of both arms. Returning from school, lie crossed the railway line behind a train which he thought had cleared, when it shunted back and caught him. He was dragged for about 40 yards under the tender, and finally taken out with both small arms from the elbows down and hands crushed beyond repair.

In the hospital for 12 weeks, the 7-yeaf-old boy decided that there was still a lot in life. And you could grasp it without arms. He still thinks that.

His business, a newsageney and grocery, keeps him busy for most .hours of the day, but there is the early morning and week-ends when he can slip off to the beaches and spend long hours in the surf. HE DOES HIS JOB. When lie is on the job, lie is on ; jt properly. There are ladders to climb to arrange stock, parcels to tie up, papers to sort for the newsboys, and ..many customers to serve. And with the stumps of his arms, which will just meet, he manages all this. Some of his customers, moved to pity by his apparent plight, offer to serve themselves, or to assist him in serving them. He smiles and says, “Thank you, it isn’t necessary.”

He is probably quicker than the average salesman in despatching business.

When the crowd gathers in the shop at evening time he switches on the wireless, or slips a record or two on his little gramophone while they discuss the news of the day. And lie can fight. Physical exercises each morning after the swim keep him in good trim. “FORGET ABOUT IT.” “Forget about it,” is bis motto, lie said to a reporter who recently called at the shop and offered him a hand. “That’s what I do mostly.” At Fort Street, Redsliaw gained his leaving certificate. Extra time was allowed for him to complete his 'papers. He didn’t need it.

He writes neatly, with pen or pencil held between his arms, or between his teeth.

He lias even triumphed over his .affliction to the extent of being; able to play cricket, grasping the bat in the stumps of his arms. Sheer grit lias kept Clyde Redshaw going through Hi armless years. By unflinching purpose he has brought success, even joy of life, within his reach. Redshaw spent a holiday in Foxton a year or so ago, when he .stayed with his sister, Mi's. T. A. Robinson, of Shannon Road.