Basil the Off-Road Hero: When Your Backup Chair Becomes the Main Character

When a Routine Service Uncovers More Than Expected: Wheelchair Worries and Unexpected Wins

There’s a specific kind of stress that only wheelchair users will truly understand—the sudden, gut-punch feeling when your chair, your lifeline, comes back from a routine service with unexpected damage. That’s exactly what happened to me recently. What was supposed to be a simple check-up turned into a moment of panic when my regular chair, named Agnes, returned with a significant issue.

Fortunately, Sunrise Medical came through. Agnes is still under warranty, and there was no obvious cause for the fault, so they covered the repair without hesitation. Also a a shout out to Celtic Therapy and Rehab Services for their help with this! Honestly, I breathed a massive sigh of relief. With a holiday on the horizon and a jam-packed schedule in the lead-up, the timing couldn’t have been worse for a chair crisis.

In the meantime, I’ve been getting around with Basil—my all-terrain wheelchair. Basil is usually reserved for the great outdoors, built for mud and mountains rather than pavements and polished floors. But over the past few weeks, he’s stepped in as my day-to-day chair, and to my surprise (and his), he’s done a stellar job. Gigs, theatre trips, speaking engagements—you name it, Basil’s been there, albeit with the occasional awkward 5-point turn.

Image Description: Basil in his natural habitat!

This experience has brought something into sharp focus: how little most people know about wheelchairs. About the variety. About the nuances of choosing one. About the fact that many of us don’t have a one-size-fits-all solution, and that the right chair for today might not be the one for tomorrow.

It’s also got me thinking about the Government’s recent “guidelines” suggesting that chairs like Basil aren’t technically pavement legal. According to these rules, he’s meant to be treated more like a vehicle than a mobility aid. But over these past few weeks, as I’ve trundled through streets, theatres, and crowded lobbies, not once have I been challenged. I’ve encountered nothing but acceptance and kindness. Maybe that’s luck. Maybe that’s privilege. Maybe that’s a sign that people are more understanding than the policies that govern them.

Here’s the truth: our wheelchairs are an extension of ourselves. They’re not accessories. They’re not conveniences. They are essential, personal, carefully chosen tools that enable us to participate in life. When we select a chair—whether it’s for day-to-day use, outdoor adventuring, or an upcoming trip—we are thinking about our independence, our health, and our happiness. The last thing we should have to worry about is whether our choice meets the approval of someone who’s never had to think twice about mobility.

Image Description: Basil inside the O2 Academy in Bristol, it turns out that good suspension aids in head banging…who knew!

So, here’s to Basil. And to all the wheelchairs and mobility aids that carry us, in all their forms. May we be allowed to choose what’s best for our bodies, our lives, and our journeys—without judgment, restriction, or barriers.

Image Description: I couldn’t sign off without a shout out to my running frame, Rex. Another head-turning piece of equipment that contributes to my well-being and enriches my life.