Tottenham man inspires students after bouncing back from life-changing injury

A Tottenham man who was paralysed in a work accident but bounced back to retrain as an electrician says he wouldn’t have moved forward without being giving a chance by a local college.

John Poulter was aged 42 and working as a HGV driver when a heavy pallet fell from a forklift on to his lower back, paralysing him from the waist down. This life-altering accident brought John’s active lifestyle to standstill.

“Those were the darkest days of my life,” said John, who faced two operations and a lengthy recovery over several years. “I was angry and the most bitter, twisted individual you could come across.

“When I first got a wheelchair, I kept asking myself: ‘Why am I sitting in it, why am I going through this, why me?’”

In 2015, while receiving therapy, John’s doctors had suggested that he attend college, and he began applying for electrical courses. However, he was turned down by 44 colleges across the UK before being finally accepted and offered a place at The College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London (Conel).

“I kept getting red-flagged all the time, college after college,” John said. “Then Conel took me on the assumption that if I prove I can do it, they will put the building blocks in place for me.”

John relocated to Tottenham from Buckinghamshire and went on to complete two electrical installation diplomas, with distinction. He subsequently launched his own business, last year, and is now back at the college working as an advocate for diversity and inclusion.

John said: “I can’t fault anything about Conel. If it wasn’t for the college, I wouldn’t have moved forward.”

Prior to the accident, John had worked as a butcher and served in the British Army. Now 56, John runs his own business with his wife and son, JRP ELectrical, providing the tendering, design and contracting of electrical works for domestic and large developments.

John is currently studying for a Level 4 electrical qualification while also giving his time to help and inspire the next generation of electricians at the college. “The only person that can tell an individual they can’t do something, is themselves,” he said.