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Samson Rising
From childhood days growing up on a tough Cornish council estate during the 1960s and ’70s, through to establishing a bespoke Multiple Sclerosis therapy centre in Surrey, John Hambly’s life has been quite a roller-coaster.
He discovered the strength of teamwork early on by becoming mentally and physically fit playing rugby at senior school, whilst also realising that this was a good way to dispel bullies.
A career in surveying led him to London; quite a change for a boy from the west country. There were some hilarious and mad escapades as he learnt ‘on the job’, but he was successful in his chosen profession and also in sport, becoming Captain of an aspiring junior London rugby club. Marriage and four daughters also followed along the way.
It is when participating in the London Marathon that the first alarming signs of his physical problems appeared, but only later that Multiple Sclerosis was diagnosed.
Following two years where his condition seemed to be in free-fall, and realising the great lack of specialist resources in the NHS, John became determined to improve the situation. Over the next 17 years, with help from his ex-teammates, charity trustees, family and friends, millions of pounds were raised to enable the construction and development of the Samson Centre in Guildford; eventually treating up to 200 people a week and offering 10,000 therapy sessions each year.
It is John Hambly’s indomitable spirit and great belief in teamwork that built this charitable foundation – and this is his story.
ISBN: 9781852001971
Size: 217x140mm
Binding: hardback
100+ colour plates and illustrations
Length: 323pp
About the author:
John Hambly
Born and brought up in Truro, Cornwall, the author attended Redruth Grammar School and then Leicester Polytechnic, where he gained a degree in Building Surveying. Becoming a Chartered Surveyor at Philip Andrews in London, he then went on to work at Cyril Silver and Partners. Eventually he joined Scott Godwin Associates where he became a partner.
Throughout his life the sport of rugby has always been high on his agenda. His formative years within an uncompromising Cornish rugby scene held him in good stead, and when his sporting prowess proved effective in London he welcomed the opportunity and honour of captaining Actonians RFC for five years.
Over the years he has regularly returned back to his roots in Cornwall with his wife Marion and their four daughters, visiting family and friends and using the change of tempo and the beauty of the county to rejuvenate body and spirit. In his own words: ‘Despite having been unable to visit the fatherland in recent years, I am still sustained by the dream of once again looking across my beloved Mount’s Bay as the sun rises on another beautiful day.’
