A FORMER bank robber who turned his life around with help from Warrington Disability Partnership (WDP) launched his new book at the Centre for Independent Living, Beaufort Street.
After a spell in prison and later suffering an anxiety and depression breakdown, author and life coach Clive Crossingham vowed to help others.
Following an upbringing in Hackney, East London, Clive left school without any qualifications and embarked on an underworld career of drugs and crime. At 19 he committed an armed robbery and was sentenced to three years in prison.
He said: “It was my first offence – but marked a turning point in my life. Prison was very hard and brutal. It was not a nice place but it made me grow up quickly and take stock of my life.
“The experience brought me closer to my family and I resolved to make something of my life.”
Following his release, Clive moved north to Warrington to make a fresh start. He overcame the odds, and impressed his family and friends, by graduating from the Manchester Metropolitan University and qualifying as both a social worker and H.R professional.
Clive’s life appeared to be going well but, in 2004, things took a turn for the worse.
He said: “I suffered a traumatic stress breakdown and was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. This was the first time anything like this had ever happened in my life. It felt like a nightmare from which I was unable to wake up; I thought my life was over.
“During that dark period I couldn’t work and spent most of my days and nights slumped on the sofa. My world had become a scary place, where I was too anxious to go out, answer the phone, deal with any of my personal affairs, or do anything at all. In short, I just wanted to die.”
With the help of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, together with support from WDP Clive has pulled his life back on track and re-trained as a life coach.
He returned to WDP to launch his book called “The Wizard of Positive Living: Tools to Improve Your Life,” which uses the Wizard of Oz as a metaphor for life’s journey. It offers a step-by-step guide for anyone wanting to improve their life.
More than 40 people attended the book launch and during the celebration Clive made a presentation of a framed copy of his book cover to Brun Corbishley, operations manager at WDP, to thank the organisation for its help.
The book is available from Amazon.com and further information about the author’s Positive Living workshops and his work as a coach and motivational speaker can be found at www.clivecrossingham.co.uk
Pictured: Clive at the book launch with WDP’s operations manager, Brun Corbishley
Ex-bank robber launches book
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About Author
Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
