Popular Welsh actor Wynford Ellis Owen’s first ever English language book, No Room to Live, was launched last night at The Temple of Peace, Cardiff. Written as a self-help book, it’s hard-hitting and thought-provoking, poignant yet suitably sobering.
Hosting the launch was popular TV presenter Angharad Mair while actors Mark Lewis Jones, whose TV appearances include 55 Degrees North, Bench and Con Passionate, and John Pierce Jones, famous for playing Mr Picton in S4C’s C’mon Midffild read passages from the book. Musical entertainment was provided by violinist Heulwen Thomas and The Bethlehem Chapel Quartet.
It was his successful Welsh language autobiography, Raslas Bach a Mawr, published in 2005, which gave Ellis Owen the initial idea to adapt the publication for an English audience. However No Room to Live has since developed to be far more than an autobiography of the actor’s life and his personal battle with alcoholism.
As chief executive of the Welsh Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs and a qualified addictions councillor, Ellis Owen has turned his experiences around and in doing so he saw the need for a self-help book with a difference. No Room to Live took shape and it will be essential reading for people and families struggling to cope with the plague of modern day society – alcoholism and dependency on drugs in its many guises.
A self-help book it may be, but given Ellis Owen’s engaging narrative style, it makes compelling reading. The narrative is based on anecdotes - some comical, some serious – influenced by the author’s own experiences. As a well-known and respected actor, Ellis Owen’s addiction to alcohol shook the foundations of Welsh society, especially for those who associated him as the character Syr Wynff ap Concord y Bos in the ground-breaking children’s TV programme, Teliffant, of the 1970s.
No Room to Live will retail at £11.95, with all proceeds being donated to a new charity established by the Welsh Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs, called The Living Room Cardiff/Yr Ystafell Fyw Caerdydd. This brand new charitable venture aims to set up a free, bilingual day-care rehabilitation centre in the capital to help people break the cycle of addiction. In time, the service will be extended to all major towns throughout Wales.
Ellis Owen’s success in beating his addiction and regaining his reputation in Welsh life, both on and off screen, put him in a unique position to write this self-help book.
Ellis Owen explains, “Alcoholism and dependency on drugs, both prescription and illicit, ruin lives. It’s a slippery slope into despair and despondency. You risk losing everything, your self-respect, your home, your family. I know because I’ve been there. My book, No Room to Live, focuses on how to regain control of life and find happiness once again.
“The road to recovery is not an easy one. It requires determination and commitment, strength and support. My book is one of many tools available to people to help them rebuild their lives. There is a range of support organisations out there too, including the Welsh Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs. So while life for sufferers might seem a lonely and depressing place, there is hope, comfort and support.
“I’m delighted to reveal that all proceeds from my book will be donated towards setting up a free, bilingual day-care rehabilitation centre in Cardiff. The Living Room Cardiff/Yr Ystafell Fyw Caerdydd, will offer help for anyone experiencing difficulties relating to alcohol, drugs (prescribed or illicit), or any other dependency, such as eating disorders, love and sex addiction, gambling and self-harm. My book is intended, therefore, to help others to rebuild their lives.”
Actor Mark Lewis Jones commented, “It was a pleasure to support my fellow actor Wynford Ellis Owen as he launched his first ever English language book and an honour for me to be reading passages from his work at the event.
“No Room to Live depicts Wynford’s recovery from alcoholism and tells of his struggle to face his demons. It is written as a self-help book and I’m sure it will be an inspiration to others who find themselves trapped to an addiction of one kind or another. The book is testament to the fact that there is light and hope at the end of the tunnel.”
Actor John Pierce Jones, added, “It takes great courage to write a book like this and I was delighted to support Wynford as he launched No Room to Live. It’s an absorbing account of Wynford’s journey from addiction to recovery, told with warmth and humour.
“The book is positive and inspiring, and makes recovery a reality for even more people across the UK and beyond. It reaches out to alcoholics, addicts, their families and provides them with new hope that there is a way out of one of the most invidious illnesses known to mankind.”
From May 2010, the publication No Room to Live will be available to purchase directly from the Council, via their website www.welshcouncil.org.uk, and from www.gwales.com.
ENDS
For further information please contact Rhodri Ellis Owen at Cambrensis Communications on 029 2025 7075 or rhodri@cambrensis.uk.com or go to www.welshcouncil.org.uk.
Notes to Editors
*The Living Room Cardiff/Yr Ystafell Fyw Caerdydd, is based on the ‘Living Room’ concept operational at 8 - 10 The Glebe, Chills Way, Stevenage SG2 0DJ. A registered charity: No. 1080634, more information can be accessed at www.thelivingroom.me.uk. Janis Feely (its Director and Founder) will advise, act as consultant to the Cardiff venture, and be responsible for all staff training.
Tuesday, 18 May 2010
Friday, 14 May 2010
New thinking on addiction recovery focuses on honesty and openness to combat wall of shame and stigma
As a new self-help book on addiction, No Room to Live, is launched next week, its author and chief executive of the Welsh Council on Alcohol and Other Drugs, Wynford Ellis Owen has come out in support of the UK Recovery Foundation’s (UKRF) aim to make recovery from alcohol and drug dependency a reality for many more people across the UK. The author himself has been very public about his recovery and believes too many people in a similar position to himself have tended to hide their recoveries from addiction - thus perpetuating the secrecy and shame of it all.
The UK substance misuse field is currently experiencing change on a profound level, mirroring significant changes within society as the political, social and financial landscape shifts and adapts to challenging new priorities and agendas. However, according to the UKRF there needs to be a major change in how society helps people overcome substance misuse and related problems. These recovery solutions should focus on the individuals themselves as honesty, self awareness and openness lie at the heart of healthy recovery movements.
Ellis Owen believes, as does UKRF, that it is only by ‘coming out’ can the wall of shame and stigma be broken down, as it is this which keeps people from finding their route to recovery. The signs are encouraging as the first UK Recovery March was held in Liverpool in 2009 and will be followed by a similar march, the UK Recovery Walk, in Glasgow in September. The first UK recovery Federation conference was held in Preston in May 2010 and affirmed that there were tens of thousands of men and women across the UK who were ready to speak out about their recovery experiences.
Wynford Ellis Owen, said, “In America alcoholism is regarded as a disease. In this country, however it is still regarded as a disgrace. We can all work together to change that perception by making our recoveries more visible. After all, is there a family anywhere in the country that hasn’t in some way been affected by the misuse of alcohol or drugs?
“People in recovery can offer hope to a world whose people are becoming increasingly dependent on alcohol and other substances. They can reach out to alcoholics, addicts, their families – providing them with new hope – and educating policy makers. People can begin this important advocacy work by talking with each other or friends or neighbours about their recoveries and what it means to them. It is not easy, but as people become more comfortable, they can expand their audience.”
No Room To Live will be launched at The Temple of Peace in Cardiff at 18.30 on Monday 17 May. The book depicts Ellis Owen’s own battle with alcoholism and offers hope and advice for others struggling to cope with alcoholism and addiction in its many guises.
Ellis Owen’s engaging narrative style makes compelling reading. The narrative is based on anecdotes - some comical, some serious – drawn from the author’s own experiences. Ellis Owen’s success in beating his addiction and regaining his reputation in Welsh life, both on and off screen, has put him in a unique position to write this self-help book. All proceeds from the book will be donated towards setting up a free, bilingual day-care rehabilitation centre in Cardiff. This unique project, known as “The Living Room Cardiff/Yr Ystafell Fyw Caerdydd” is in its infancy and, once up and running, will offer help for anyone experiencing difficulties relating to alcohol, drugs (prescribed or illicit), or any other dependency, such as eating disorders, sex addiction, gambling and self-harm.
The UK substance misuse field is currently experiencing change on a profound level, mirroring significant changes within society as the political, social and financial landscape shifts and adapts to challenging new priorities and agendas. However, according to the UKRF there needs to be a major change in how society helps people overcome substance misuse and related problems. These recovery solutions should focus on the individuals themselves as honesty, self awareness and openness lie at the heart of healthy recovery movements.
Ellis Owen believes, as does UKRF, that it is only by ‘coming out’ can the wall of shame and stigma be broken down, as it is this which keeps people from finding their route to recovery. The signs are encouraging as the first UK Recovery March was held in Liverpool in 2009 and will be followed by a similar march, the UK Recovery Walk, in Glasgow in September. The first UK recovery Federation conference was held in Preston in May 2010 and affirmed that there were tens of thousands of men and women across the UK who were ready to speak out about their recovery experiences.
Wynford Ellis Owen, said, “In America alcoholism is regarded as a disease. In this country, however it is still regarded as a disgrace. We can all work together to change that perception by making our recoveries more visible. After all, is there a family anywhere in the country that hasn’t in some way been affected by the misuse of alcohol or drugs?
“People in recovery can offer hope to a world whose people are becoming increasingly dependent on alcohol and other substances. They can reach out to alcoholics, addicts, their families – providing them with new hope – and educating policy makers. People can begin this important advocacy work by talking with each other or friends or neighbours about their recoveries and what it means to them. It is not easy, but as people become more comfortable, they can expand their audience.”
No Room To Live will be launched at The Temple of Peace in Cardiff at 18.30 on Monday 17 May. The book depicts Ellis Owen’s own battle with alcoholism and offers hope and advice for others struggling to cope with alcoholism and addiction in its many guises.
Ellis Owen’s engaging narrative style makes compelling reading. The narrative is based on anecdotes - some comical, some serious – drawn from the author’s own experiences. Ellis Owen’s success in beating his addiction and regaining his reputation in Welsh life, both on and off screen, has put him in a unique position to write this self-help book. All proceeds from the book will be donated towards setting up a free, bilingual day-care rehabilitation centre in Cardiff. This unique project, known as “The Living Room Cardiff/Yr Ystafell Fyw Caerdydd” is in its infancy and, once up and running, will offer help for anyone experiencing difficulties relating to alcohol, drugs (prescribed or illicit), or any other dependency, such as eating disorders, sex addiction, gambling and self-harm.
Saturday, 8 May 2010
UKRF Conference and a definition of Recovery
I co-facilitated a workshop with Brendan Georgeson treatment coordinator of Walsingham Houise in Bristol, on 'Regional Representation & Recovery' at the brilliant UK Recovery Federation Conference in Preston yesterday (7th May, 2010). Rowdy Tates and Mark Gilman were inspirational speakers and got everyone going. Let's tell the world about the wonder of Recovery I say!
Thanks to Michaela, Anne-Marie and Alistair for arranging the do.
Read a fine definition of Recover in The Little Red Book this morning: 'Recovery' it said is when 'we attain spiritual strength, understanding, humility, emotional stability, peace of mind and contented sobriet'. Amen I say.
Thanks to Michaela, Anne-Marie and Alistair for arranging the do.
Read a fine definition of Recover in The Little Red Book this morning: 'Recovery' it said is when 'we attain spiritual strength, understanding, humility, emotional stability, peace of mind and contented sobriet'. Amen I say.
Monday, 3 May 2010
Disease versus Disgrace
In America alcoholism is regarded as a disease. In this country, however, it’s still regarded as a disgrace. So who perpetrates this shameful attitude? Is it the general public? Not a bit of it. They are fully aware that it takes courage and stick-to-itiveness to recover from alcoholism and extend an extraordinary amount of goodwill towards those who are prepared to confront their problems. Besides, they know full well from bitter experience, that there isn’t a family in this country that hasn’t in some way been affected by the misuse of alcohol and/or drugs
So who’s responsible? I’m afraid it’s some of the recovering alcoholics themselves. These are people who have misunderstood the concept of anonymity. Anonymity was never intended to protect the alcoholic. It was intended to protect the Fellowship from the alcoholic. Alas, many hide fearfully under the bushel of anonymity and their recoveries become invisible to the rest of the world. Sad that - when so many people out there need our help.
People in recovery can offer hope to a world whose peoples are becoming increasingly dependent on alcohol.
And the hope is this: that there is a way out of one of the most invidious illnesses known to mankind – one of the only illnesses that tells you there’s nothing wrong with you; that man is capable of confronting the ‘burden of being human’; is able to stay sober one day at a time, and is able to live a life beyond his wildest dreams.
Recovering alcoholics are living examples of this. We are indeed privileged people.
Please don’t invisibilize that privilege, that’s all I’m suggesting.
So who’s responsible? I’m afraid it’s some of the recovering alcoholics themselves. These are people who have misunderstood the concept of anonymity. Anonymity was never intended to protect the alcoholic. It was intended to protect the Fellowship from the alcoholic. Alas, many hide fearfully under the bushel of anonymity and their recoveries become invisible to the rest of the world. Sad that - when so many people out there need our help.
People in recovery can offer hope to a world whose peoples are becoming increasingly dependent on alcohol.
And the hope is this: that there is a way out of one of the most invidious illnesses known to mankind – one of the only illnesses that tells you there’s nothing wrong with you; that man is capable of confronting the ‘burden of being human’; is able to stay sober one day at a time, and is able to live a life beyond his wildest dreams.
Recovering alcoholics are living examples of this. We are indeed privileged people.
Please don’t invisibilize that privilege, that’s all I’m suggesting.
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