I was born in 1953. On leaving school I was employed in one of Scotland’s largest bus & coach companies, attaining the position of coaching manager before accepting early retirement on becoming registered blind in 1988. I then became involved and active in the disability movement e.g. Director of the UK disability forum; member of the European Disability forum; former chairman and honorary life member of the Scottish Accessible transport alliance (SATA). In the 2000’s I worked as an access officer with Inclusion Scotland and then established my own disability consultancy – Gilroy Disability Consultancy (GDC).
I have served in various branch and national levels in the national Federation of the blind of the UK e.g. Chairperson & secretary of the West of Scotland branch; Executive council member in the 1990’s and again in the 2000’s; Vice president from 2010-2013; President from 2010-2016 and now currently their honorary general treasurer.