'I accidentally swore at the Queen and her response took me by complete surprise'

Edinburgh Live

6 days ago

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Youth worker John Davidson experienced one of his proudest moments in July 2019 when he received an MBE from Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Holyrood. However, instead of the typical quiet word of gratitude, John unexpectedly exclaimed: "F*** the Queen!".
John is afflicted with a severe form of Tourette's Syndrome – a neurological disorder that can lead to tics and involuntary vocalisations such as coughing or whistling, or in John's case, abrupt eruptions of swear words.
"The tic urge often comes when I'm anxious, stressed or tired," he shared with The Times, "and then it's an exhausting mental battle telling myself, 'John, that's the absolute worst thing you could do in this moment,' and then trying not to do it."
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The intensity of the occasion began to impact John almost immediately upon his arrival at Holyrood Palace. During a standard security inspection, as officers used mirrors to check beneath his car for explosives, John couldn't suppress his condition and shouted: "A bomb! I've got a f***ing bomb!".
He also blurted out: "I'm a paedo!" while traversing one of the Palace's tapestry-adorned hallways, yet Her Majesty remained unfazed. John remembered: "Her Majesty was very kind. She was as calm and assured as my granny. She was very good about it.", reports the Mirror.
John first captured the nation's attention in 1989 through the BBC TV documentary 'John's Not Mad', which significantly raised public awareness of Tourette's syndrome, albeit with mixed consequences, as The Times highlighted that it sparked "nationwide playground mocking campaigns."
Following the broadcast, John had an unsettling encounter when a band of religious zealots, having watched the documentary, showed up at his doorstep with crucifixes, intent on performing an "exorcise the demon" ritual they believed was necessary due to his involuntary vocal outbursts.
Reflecting on that incident, John remembered being preoccupied with his pet rabbit Snowy and candidly recounted telling the intruders: "Look, I need to deal with my rabbit so will you just f*** off?" clarifying that his blunt response was born out of annoyance rather than his condition.
Despite some misguided reactions from the public, John has since been recognised as a "nationally known ambassador for the condition", dedicating himself to advocacy and education.
Through his involvement with organisations like Tourette Scotland and Tourettes Action, he has engaged with schools, delivered lectures, and facilitated workshops to share his experiences of living with Tourette syndrome.
His commitment to outreach and support for others with the condition led to a momentous accolade from The Queen. Reflecting on receiving the MBE, John expressed it as "The MBE was the proudest moment of my life," marvelling at how he went from struggling with life to making a difference and gaining recognition for his efforts.
John's contributions have been acknowledged with both a book and a fresh documentary film, aptly titled "I Swear."
His initial encounter with the film's director, Kirk Jones, was memorable for yet another of his impulsive exclamations; while making the director a cup of tea, he blurted out: "I used spunk for milk."
(Image: PA)