When Jim Britt lost his leg in a gardening accident, it changed his life overnight. But, he says, some events are geared up for those with a disability – and Silverstone is one of them
I’ll admit it, I took having two legs for granted. I spent 75 years as an able bodied person, not giving it a second thought. So when I had to have my right leg amputated through the knee this January, after falling off a ladder while gardening, to say that it was a shock would be an understatement. Overnight I found myself in a wheelchair, and the difficulties that brings with it. You see, it turns out that we live in an incredibly inaccessible world… if you’re on wheels, rather than feet.
So when I find something that makes it easy for me to enjoy – I have to shout about it. And the British Grand Prix at Silverstone was one of them. So how does it work? Let me explain.
At the base of plenty of the grandstands, there is an accessible viewing platform. The Silverstone website is pretty good at telling you which ones have them. My daughter Hannah and I had a ticket for Wellington, which included entrance to a little garden area away from the crowds. I also had a parking pass, pre-booked and paid for, to make things easy on the day.
Once on site, parking signs funnel you to the huge public car parks. The best for disability is car park 51, but 46 was good too, near the Abbey entrance. If you tell the attendants you’re disabled, there are spaces near the top saved – but be prepared to prove it with a disabled badge.
Once parked, the ground is flat enough to easily leave the car park, and from there onwards a selection of pavements provide flat ground for wheelchairs to traverse. There are dipped curbs everywhere, and if anywhere is blocked off by a railing, attendants are on hand to open them and let you though.
When inside the Silverstone site itself, while there are plenty of inaccessible footbridges taking spectators from A to B, there are also lots of tunnels and ramps, as well as lots of marshals to guide you to where you need to be.
In a matter of minutes I was at the Wellington enclosure. There, a big screen stood in front of several lines of coloured deck chairs, a photo wall provided the backdrop for souvenir portraits, and a covered seating area allowed some shade. Live music entertained us all while we decided between chicken wraps and burgers for lunch, and there was a bar too. Importantly, there was a fully accessible disabled toilet, large enough for me to wheel my whole chair into.
To watch the race itself, a ramp led us up to a roomy viewing platform. Attendants were on hand to help if we needed anything, and there was the option of chairs or bays depending on whether I wanted to stay in my wheelchair. As we settled into our spot ready for the race, we were asked if we were okay and if we needed anything – a nice touch.
Then it was time for the race! And what a race it was, with Lewis Hamilton fighting for the podium for 52 breathtaking laps. I had a fantastic view from my bay, and spent most of it standing up on my leg, holding onto the front bar. It was exhilarating, and emotional too – being at Silverstone was something I thought may not have been for me anymore. I’m pleased to report I was wrong.
When the race came to an end we retraced our steps, and made easy work of getting out of the circuit. Our kind parking attendant helped Hannah shove the wheelchair into the car and waved us off on our way home.
As we drove away, I was struck by how relaxed I felt – and had indeed felt all day long. Every single moment had been thought out and catered for. Silverstone was truly a place for all. Accessible with a capital A, and therefore a joy to visit.
*For more information and to book tickets to next year’s British Grand Prix, plus other events at Silverstone, see HERE
