TWENTY years ago an Almondbury teacher’s life changed forever.

So too did his family’s, because Robert Téllez was diagnosed with Parkinson’s – a progressive neurological condition.

Back in 1991, little was known of the condition and diagnosis was difficult.

Mr Téllez said afterwards he went to read up on the condition at the library, and scared himself with the facts.

But now he and wife Jennifer, also a former teacher, are using their experience to help others.

They’re both heavily involved with the Huddersfield Branch of Parkinson’s UK and will be at an information day next Thursday at Huddersfield Town Hall.

Both hope that their experience will encourage other people in their situation to get involved.

Mr Téllez, 67, of Almondbury, said: “I went to the doctors because the right side of my body felt cold – the doctor didn’t know what it was so I was sent to a specialist who diagnosed Parkinson’s.

“He said ‘some people go bald when they get older and some people get Parkinson’s’.

“I took myself off to the library to frighten myself to death by reading all the books on it.

“But I’ve had it for 20 years and still lead an active life.”

The father-of-three takes his medication four times a day in order to control the condition.

But he believes the NHS needs more specialists with experience of Parkinson’s.

He added: “The problem with GPs is very few of them have patients with Parkinson’s, their experience is limited and that is why it’s important to get referred to a neurologist.

“When I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s relatively little was known about it.

“Now more is known about it but there’s still no cure, but the medication does work.”

Mr Téllez rarely goes into town on his own because of a stability weakness, but he does lead an active life, including painting the couple’s home recently.

He added: “It’s a confidence thing, my diction is not as clear as it was.

“I’ve never experienced problems with how other people react to me, except if I’m in a wheelchair, then people tend to ignore me which I find strange.

“I go through periods of stability and times when things aren’t quite as good.

“There are areas which could be improved, physiotherapy treatment could be better, I had intensive physiotherapy which helps.

“Also community activities help keep me active and there could be more of them.”

For wife Jennifer, the diagnosis was something of a shock, saying: “I knew something was wrong but hadn’t a clue what it was.

“I was very upset, I saw it that our future had disappeared, everything didn’t seem quite so certain at the time.

“But in a strange way our quality of life has improved because we are actively doing something positive.”

She is the branch contact for the Huddersfield support group and added: “For people being diagnosed it’s frightening, they can be in denial for some time. They want answers but are in shock so can’t take it in.

“But eventually they are read for the information and that’s where the branch comes in.”

Parkinson’s is something which is difficult to diagnose, there is not one test which can be done.

Jennifer said one member of the branch had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s for 20 years before it was discovered he didn’t have it after all. Another person they know with Parkinson’s had a stroke which wasn’t spotted.

Jennifer added: “It’s so important that anybody who has been told they’ve got Parkinson’s is referred to a specialist, and really, we need more of them.

“As the population grows and people get older more people will need treatment for neurological conditions.”

The Parkinson’s Information Day takes place at Huddersfield Town Hall on Thursday, April 22 from 10am until 3pm. It’s open for anyone to drop in.

About 120,000 people in the UK have Parkinson’s.

Most people who get Parkinson’s are aged over 50 but younger people can get it too. One in 20 is under the age of 40.

People with Parkinson’s don’t have enough of a chemical called dopamine because some nerve cells in their brain have died.

The loss of nerve cells in the brain causes the symptoms of Parkinson’s to appear.

There’s currently no cure for Parkinson’s.

Symptoms vary but include tremor, rigidity and slowness of movement.

For details on the Huddersfield branch of Parkinson’s contact Jennifer Téllez on 01484 305360.

The Huddersfield branch of Parkinson’s UK holds meetings on the third Thursday of every month at the Barton Centre at St Luke’s Hospital, from 4pm until 5.30pm. All welcome.