6 days ago
Looking back on left-handers and how they've thrived
Left Handers' Day is observed on August 13 across the world to honour the amazing left-handed people in a world mostly of right-handers.
Veteran squash player and coach Willie Studholme learned to play with his left hand following an operation (Image: Stuart Walker) This is a day to celebrate the 10 per cent of the world's population that relies on their left hand to do most tasks.
Thomas Atkinson (right), who was born without his left hand and had his left leg amputated as a small child, was selected to play for the Great Britain Amputee Football Team (Image: Newsquest) It is also an important day, as it raises awareness about the struggles of left-handed people, and encourages businesses to adapt everyday objects and make them left-handed friendly.
Cornet Dale Irving, his right and left-hand men Alasdair Cavers and Andrew Elliot, and Andrew Johnstone at Whita Well (Image: Newsquest) On Friday, August 13, 1976, Lefthanders International first declared the date as a day to celebrate the minority using left hands as their dominant hands. But Left Handers' Day really only took off in 1992 in the United Kingdom organised by the Left Handers Club.
The children of Townfoot with Cornet Andrew Johnstone and his right and left-hand men Andrew Jeffrey and Robert Rae in 1989 (Image: Newsquest) The day was so popular across America and Canada that the date was added to the national calendar as an unofficial holiday. Today the issues that left-handed people struggle with in their everyday life are mostly ergonomic.
Keswick left-hander Richard Webster and partner John Bryson put some runs on the board at a Workington Cricket vs Cockermouth match (Image: Newsquest) These include adjusting to desks that are made only for right-handed people or objects such as scissors, measuring tapes, spiral notebooks, can openers, etc. that are very difficult for left-handers to use.
Roofing Contractor Paul Heron (left) and his right hand man Mark Holliday out and about on a job (Image: Newsquest) On top of that, products that are made for left-handed people are much more expensive than those available for everyone. In short, everyday objects and commodities were not made for left-handed people.
Haig Mine Visitor Centre manager Pamela Telford helps the contractors lay the foundation slab with her right hand man, restoration volunteer Andrew Ainsworth (Image: Newsquest) For many years, they were severely discriminated against and demonised. In the Middle Ages, they were accused of witchcraft, and were the subject of weird superstitions for centuries.
Up until very recent years, being left-handed was associated with the devil, and children were punished in schools for using their left hand to write, and 'retrained' to use their right hand.
Fay Dunnery with her right hand men at Bowness Knott as they set off on their sponsored walk around Ennerdale Lake with Francis Dunnery (Image: Newsquest) But there are positives to being a leftie. It is thought that left-handed people are more flexible and adaptable, as they are often challenged in a world that is made for right-handed people. The left hand is also controlled by the right side of the brain, the one associated with emotion and creative qualities such as music and art. Many respected and famous people are left-handed. Former American presidents Barack Obama, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton are part of the club.
