S hutting myself in my room, I wanted to scream, shout… say anything. Only, whenever I tried, no sound came.
Opening my mouth to speak, I’d stumble.
Couldn’t even answer my own name during the register.
On buses, I couldn’t tell drivers my destination.
Stammering constantly, I felt so foolish.
Embarrassed, ultimately, I avoided speaking.
My mum Zel, 48, a teacher, soon noticed something was wrong and, at 8, I’d seen a speech therapist.
One-on-one, it helped temporarily, but when faced with a group, I froze.
I found solace playing the piano, which my grandad, George Bleasby, now 95, taught me to play as a girl.
I discovered that, when I sang, my stammer disappeared.
‘Just like Gareth Gates,’ Mum marvelled.
I’d watched Gareth on the ITV hit show Pop Idol…
