A NEW film charts the story of one of history’s famous stammerers.

And now a local therapist has described the difficulties faced by sufferers.

In The King’s Speech, Colin Firth portrays George VI, unexpectedly crowned following the abdication of his brother, Edward VII. As a stammerer he has a dread of public speaking – but his wartime subjects need to hear his voice.

Alan Rogers, 65, is a graduate and a coach at the McGuire Programme in Dewsbury, and underwent treatment on his stammer for 55 years.

He said: “My grandmother was of George VI’s generation and she was very good with me. She definitely remembered what it was like for the King.

“The film is raising the profile of stammering and that’s good news, but the techniques have now moved on.”

He said as a coach one social situation above all others creates a problem for sufferers.

He said: “Normally stammerers can find another word to replace the one they’re having difficulty with. If you can’t say your wedding vows, however, you’re not getting married.

“For three months before my wedding, I thought how will I do this? I know people who have lived for decades with partners because they can’t face it.

“I did manage and a lot of people were surprised that I did a lot better in my speech.

“It’s often the way that stammerers have large vocabularies because they are used to quickly choosing another word.

“This management of the condition means some people will pay too much on a bus because they would rather say the stop after the one they need. Some get off early and walk half an hour rather then confront a difficult word.