Understand
Gateshead reading group helped man overcome agoraphobia after home attack and grief
Overview
Ian Kirby, who did not leave his home for 18 months following a home invasion and the death of his mother, credits Gateshead Libraries' Reading Ramblers group with turning his life around. By joining the outdoor walking and book group in Chopwell Woods, he discovered Glenn McCrory's memoir Carrying David, which helped reduce his severe anxiety. Three years later, Kirby has joined another book club, started volunteering, and is set to appear alongside Queen Camilla on a BBC Two documentary exploring the power of reading.
Key points
- Ian Kirby stayed inside his home for 18 months following an intruder attack in 2019 and the death of his mother in 2020.
- He joined Gateshead Libraries' Reading Ramblers group in August 2021, overcoming severe anxiety to walk in Chopwell Woods.
- Reading Glenn McCrory's autobiography Carrying David deeply impacted him, as the book's dedication reminded him of his mother.
- Three years on, Kirby has joined another book group, volunteers in a care home, and says reading has given him a new lease of life.
- He will appear with Queen Camilla on BBC Two's The Book That Changed My Life to discuss how reading boosts health and reduces anxiety.