Jonty Claypole New Patron at STAMMA

STAMMA Welcomes Jonty Claypole as a Latest Patron 

Jonty Claypole joined STAMMA's illustrious list of Patrons today.  Listed in the Bookseller's Top 100 Most Influential People, Jonty is the outgoing Director of BBC Arts and Chairman of the arts centre Home in Manchester. His recent book, ‘Words Fail Us: In Defence of Disfluency’ is a cultural history of speech disorders, an exploration of the growing ‘stammering pride’ movement, and a passionate argument for diversity in speech and communication.

Jonty Claypole spent fifteen years in and out of speech therapy. From sessions with child psychologists to lengthy stammering boot camps and exposure therapies, he tried everything until being told the words he'd feared: 'We can't cure your stutter.' Those words started him on a journey towards making peace with his stammer and learning to use it to his advantage.

Commenting on his new role, Jonty said, “STAMMA’s work in tackling discrimination and creating a more positive narrative around stuttering has made it a powerful force for tolerance and diversity in the UK. I’m thrilled and proud to have an opportunity to support their work as a patron.”

Jane Powell, CEO, added, "We are delighted to welcome Jonty as a Patron of STAMMA. By demonstrating how disfluencies can enrich and improve communication and art, he has highlighted, to a world where fluency is king, how overlooking this comes at a great cost. Rethinking and reframing our own disfluency shows us how we can play our own part in bringing about this change."

Jonty joins STAMMA’s illustrious list of patrons including authors David Mitchell and Margaret Drabble, actor and rapper Scroobius Pip, and former Scotland rugby captain Kelly Brown.