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Original poster

Child of Our Time Parys Lapper has died

83 replies

TheGlaikitRambler · 27/08/2019 14:16

Does anyone remember the BBC programme Child of Our Time? 19 year old Parys, son of Alison Lapper, has died :( I feel like I watched him grow up on the show, it is really sad.

www.theargus.co.uk/news/17862170.son-disabled-woman-posed-pregnant-iconic-plinth-sculpture-dies-aged-19/?fbclid=IwAR188Rf-RIjFEEg5Llp_99pIKk8NoTgqKP0qpJ9Czw1IV_AbsgG-DeIAMwc

OP posts:
NoProblem123 · 27/08/2019 17:18

I too remember him as barely more than a toddler crossing a busy road and his mum talking to him constantly to reassure him and keep him safe while she drove her wheelchair - was so impressed by him and he seems to have grown into a lovely young man. She must be besides herself ☹️

HeadintheiClouds · 27/08/2019 17:18

Oh God, that woman has had more than anyone’s fair share of tragedy, how awful Sad

FenellaVelour · 27/08/2019 17:33

Oh no, that is such terribly sad news. His poor mum. I remember them both very well.

ElizaPancakes · 27/08/2019 17:33

My god how sad. I remember watching the programme when she was pregnant with him.

RIP Flowers

MillicentMartha · 27/08/2019 17:35

That’s so sad. My DS was the same age as the children so I watched it with great interest. He always came across as a lovely, sensible yet fun loving boy.

toomuchtooold · 27/08/2019 17:35

That's a terrible shame. Poor kid.

I'm also one who remembers her talking him across the road. Without wanting to imply that the situation was in any way equivalent, seeing her on TV doing care for Parys was a massive inspiration to me both practically and emotionally when I had twins and couldn't always just hold the baby. That's so sad.

Cheeringmeup · 27/08/2019 17:40

That's so heartbreakingly sad. Alison is truly inspirational and has overcome so much for and with her son – to lose Parys now is so unfair.
I loved the programme. My DD was born in January 2000 and I always felt a close affinity with those parents and children, it was like a mirror of our lives.

Wishing the family all the love in the world x

Frith2013 · 27/08/2019 17:41

That’s very sad.

My oldest was a millennium baby so I loved catching up with all the children in the series.

And I remember Parys holding the car where mine would have pranced around and been mown down!

Dollywops · 27/08/2019 17:42

How utterly devastating. Alison is such an amazing woman and it was absolutely inspirational watching her bring up her boy.

I am hoping that they'll do another series when the children reach 21. It's a fascinating study, with lots of heartache for many of them. Sad

BendydickCuminsnatch · 27/08/2019 17:43

Oh wow how terrible! I loved watching COOT (I’m 10 years older than the kids though!) and do the ‘hands on the car’ thing with my boys now. Always so impressed by Alison.

ChangeItChild · 27/08/2019 17:45

I loved A Child of our Time, the children were the same age as my DS and I felt quite attached to them in a strange way, I'm gutted to hear the funding was pulled. I really would've loved to see how they all got on.

I remember Parys very well, he impressed me with how responsible and helpful he was, from toddler age and older. Alison was an inspiration and I loved her philosophy to parenting.

It's heartbreaking and so unfair. RIP Parys. Sad

Original poster
TheGlaikitRambler · 27/08/2019 18:17

Maybe now they will fo a follow-up, in honour of Parys, with a focus on mental health in youngsters.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheGlaikitRambler · 27/08/2019 18:18

I remember worrying about Eve in the last episode that was shown, after she lost her mother :(

OP posts:
Avocadodance · 27/08/2019 18:20

This is heartbreaking

Rubicon80 · 27/08/2019 18:24

God, that is so so sad. Absolutely awful. I loved that programme, and she was so amazing, and he was such a beautiful boy.

spiderlight · 27/08/2019 18:30

Oh how awful - just heartbreaking. I remember Alison so vividly, the odds she had to overcome and her calm pragmatism in caring for Parys.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 27/08/2019 18:40

That’s so very sad.

iaintgettinonnoplane · 27/08/2019 19:13

So very very sad. My DC is same age. Millennium baby. I have watched child of our time while raising a child of the time. My first child. What a remarkable family Alison and Parys were and will remain.

So utterly utterly devastating to hear this has happened. My thoughts are with Alison at this time. What a remarkable young man Parys is and will remain. My DC have grown up watching this young man , a generation united in the millennium, as have i and he will always be in our hearts and memories.

So heartbreaking to hear. Sending love and strength to Parys's family at this time. May he rest in eternal peace.

Tobythecat · 27/08/2019 19:21

Life is so fucking cruel

KindergartenKop · 27/08/2019 20:34

Oh that's so sad. I was thinking about him yesterday :(

Original poster
TheGlaikitRambler · 27/08/2019 20:46

The remarkable way Alison parented Parys, especially the car/crossing roads, has always stayed with me. He was a beautiful boy with a fantastic mum.

OP posts:
LynetteScavo · 28/08/2019 06:30

Maybe now they will fo a follow-up, in honour of Parys, with a focus on mental health in youngsters

I actually think it's much needed viewing for many reasons.

I've just read on line there was a series in 2017 so I'm going to see if it's available to view.

Andahelterskelterroundmylittle · 28/08/2019 06:52

I've also watched this fantastic series since it began .My eldest daughter is the same age. The article stars he's,the only child to have died, but I think Shelby also died fairly recently.Feel extremely sad.

cardamoncoffee · 28/08/2019 07:25

Some posters are confusing COOT with Born to be Different. (Shelbie was in the latter)

So sad for the family, Parys was a lovely boy, he always had such a mature head on his shoulders. Such a tragedy.

Andahelterskelterroundmylittle · 28/08/2019 23:30

Oh goodness so I am ! Apologies, I followed both series Easily confused these days Blush