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How writing helped cab driver after horrific attack
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Author:  BigMcBen [ Mon Nov 03, 2014 1:33 pm ]
Post subject:  How writing helped cab driver after horrific attack

HE was subject to a savage beating that left him so terrified he was unable to leave home for six months.

But cabbie George McDougall is making a comeback after graduating from university as an aspiring screenwriter – at the age of 75.

The pensioner suffered a broken jaw while a crazed customer rained blows on him during a late-night taxi ride from Gilmore Place bowling green to an address in Cramond.

The violent passenger, whose girlfriend was also in the taxi, launched the sickening assault after being asked if he wanted to go via a turn-off at Davidson’s Mains.

George, from Broxburn, said: “I was told, ‘you’re the f****** driver’, and that was when he punched me in the face, while I was still driving the car. My car strayed to the side of the road and stopped. He and the woman got out and he started smashing the windows and punching me.

“I was terrified – terrified for my life. I just thought, ‘This guy is capable of anything’.”

Although he was able to “rugby-tackle” and hold down his assailant until police arrived, George’s post-traumatic stress was so severe that he found himself too afraid to leave his house and had to give up work.

The great-grandad said he was still living with the effects of the beating, which happened in September 2004.

“I used to play golf at the Dalmahoy and dropped by the course there shortly after it all happened,” he said. “I got out the car that day and just said to myself, ‘no’, and got back in the car and drove back to the house. I just felt secure there.

“I could not leave the house. I could go into the garden at the back for some fresh air, but that was it. I just could not talk to people and I could not face people. I’m still taking pills [for the stress].”

It was not until George’s son encouraged him to take screenwriting night-classes at Edinburgh University that his confidence began to return.

Five years later, George had earned sufficient qualifications to get on to Edinburgh Napier University’s PgCert in screenwriting course and has not looked back since.

Now graduated, George has already written more than 20 short and feature-length screenplays, which he plans to pitch to producers.

He said the experience of attending university was life-altering.

“I got to university and everyone was so helpful – no-one was saying I was too old for this or anything like that,” he said.

George’s teachers said they were delighted at his course success.

Professor Robin MacPherson, director of Screen Academy Scotland, said: “George’s story is an inspiration to anyone who, for whatever reason, has put off following their passion in life.”

Source: http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/n ... -1-3592045

Author:  captain cab [ Mon Nov 03, 2014 1:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How writing helped cab driver after horrific attack

nice try, but you got to get up early to catch tdo unaware of taxi stories :wink:

viewtopic.php?f=12&t=25442

Author:  BigMcBen [ Mon Nov 03, 2014 1:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How writing helped cab driver after horrific attack

Just remove it then.

Author:  captain cab [ Mon Nov 03, 2014 1:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How writing helped cab driver after horrific attack

BigMcBen wrote:
Just remove it then.


naa, it'll get more comments in the national section and its a good news story.....and we need some of them :D

Author:  Sussex [ Mon Nov 03, 2014 8:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How writing helped cab driver after horrific attack

BigMcBen wrote:
But cabbie George McDougall is making a comeback after graduating from university as an aspiring screenwriter – at the age of 75.

Is that really a degree course?

He should have done law and gone after all the thugs and villains that make our trade not always a good place to be in.

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