Jude’s Talk for the Marchwood Prelude concert

Posted 2hrs ago
by Jude Atcherley

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A Community Concert on the edge of the New Forest, Supporting Tourettes Action

The Marchwood Music Society’s Spring Concert on 9th May 2026 brought the village together for
an evening of uplifting performance and community spirit. With the theme “Out of This World”, the packed hall was treated to a musical journey that spanned planets, stars, satellites and beyond.

The Marchwood Prelude Orchestra — featuring saxophones, drums, guitars as well as traditional
orchestral instruments — performed a vibrant programme inspired by the moon, clouds and
space. Audience members also enjoyed performances from three smaller ensembles: Marchwood
Clarinotes, Flutes of the Forest, and Saxophonous, along with a debut appearance from the
Marchwood WI Singers. Music ranged from the classic Telstar to Catch a Falling Star, Swing Low
Sweet Chariot and Jupiter from Holst’s Planet Suite.

The concert raised an impressive £502.07, with a further £65 donated via QR code, all in support
of Tourettes Action.

During the interval, Annette Ruddock delivered a short talk written by her daughter Jude, whose
sons live with Tourette syndrome. She also encouraged the audience to watch the BAFTA‑winning
short film “I Swear”, which powerfully portrays the lived experience of John Davidson and helps
challenge misconceptions about the condition.

A highlight of the evening was the orchestra welcoming Annette’s twelve‑year‑old grandson,
Oscar, to the stage. Oscar, who was diagnosed with TS at age eight, joined the
orchestra on saxophone for a spirited performance of Telstar. He has been a passionate advocate
for awareness following his diagnosis and is currently featured in Tourettes Action’s national
awareness campaign (#nochoice).

The evening concluded with conductor Bernard Chinonso leading the orchestra in a second,
energetic rendition of Telstar — a joyful finale to a night that celebrated music, community, and a
greater understanding of Tourette syndrome.

This is the talk written by Jude and delivered by Annette:

Good evening everyone, and thank you so much for being here tonight.

I’d like to take just a few minutes to talk about Tourette syndrome, the families it affects, and why
your support tonight genuinely matters.

Tourette’s is a neurological condition that causes involuntary movements and sounds called tics.
These aren’t habits, they aren’t choices, and they aren’t something a person can simply “stop”.
Around 1 in 100 people live with Tourette’s — which means it’s far more common than most
people realise. Many also experience ADHD, autism, anxiety or learning differences alongside it.

But the hardest part is often the misunderstanding — the staring, the jokes, the assumptions, and
the feeling of being different for something you cannot control.

I want to share a little of Oscar’s story, because it reflects what so many families experience.
Oscar started ticcing around the age of five. At first it was tiny things — small movements and
sounds we didn’t even recognise as tics. Then, during Covid, he developed a coughing tic
whenever we left the house. He knew he shouldn’t be coughing, but he had no choice, due to the
Tourette’s. Imagine being a child in a pandemic, knowing people were frightened of coughs, and
not being able to stop.

Over time, his ticcing increased and began causing him real pain. For example, when he has his
neck tics, it is the equivalent of getting whiplash — not once, but every single day. As parents, we
were desperate to get him help.

But in the UK, there is no formal pathway for Tourette’s. We were passed from one professional to
another, each trying their best, but none quite sure what to do. It wasn’t that medical
professionals didn’t want to help — they absolutely did — but without clear guidance or training,
they simply didn’t know how to help. Eventually we met a paediatrician who knew enough to
make the diagnosis, and we were incredibly grateful. But after that… nothing. No treatment plan
or clear support.

So we did what so many families do: we researched everything, we learned everything we could,
we connected with other parents, and we found Tourettes Action — one of the few sources of
real guidance, understanding, and community.

That’s why tonight matters.

Tourettes Action provide support, advocacy, training for schools and workplaces, research
funding, and a community where families don’t feel alone. They work to replace myths with
understanding, and isolation with connection. Every pound raised tonight helps them reach more
families who are still stuck in that same limbo we were in.

Before I finish, I want to point you towards two things:

First, please watch “I Swear”, the BAFTA‑winning film about John Davidson. It’s powerful, honest,
and it opens people’s eyes to what living with Tourette’s is really like.

And second — keep your eyes open next week. Tourettes Action are launching a brand‑new
national campaign, and you might just spot someone familiar… Oscar is part of it, and we
couldn’t be prouder.

Thank you for listening, thank you for supporting the charity, and thank you for helping build a
kinder, more informed community for people with Tourette’s.

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