A musician's life (From Stroud News and Journal)

A musician's life

WELL-known Stroud musician and Tourette's Syndrome sufferer Crimea Butler-Downton is putting his life on film in a new documentary by a local film-maker.

Expected to be finished by autumn, the 20-minute film highlights the brilliant composer's constant battle with the much-misunderstood condition.

Affected by Tourette's all his life and partially blind, Crimea's condition gives him physical twitches and irresistible compulsions to blurt out words and touch things.

But he hopes the film by Stroud documentary maker James Dick will help people understand and accept his eccentric behaviour - and highlight his considerable talent.

"I wanted it to show the musical side of my life as well," said Crimea. "The only thing people see in the streets is the vocal tics and the twitching and they think I am not capable of anything.

"There are still so many misconceptions about Tourette's. It is still thought of as just a swearing disorder."

He added sadly: "I always feel I am fighting with it. It is a constant pressure. That is why I like to get away from people - it is painful to be where people are."

James Dick has worked on documentaries in Stroud before with his company longblackcoat, most notably the well-received 2003 film Steep Step Stroud.

"What fascinated me about Crimea so much was his public behaviour," said James. "The touching and spinning around. Sometimes the behaviour is quite strange but people react to him from ignorance."

And he added his hopes that the film, which is planned to be shown in the town later this year, could even make it onto mainstream television.

"I think it has a lot of potential," he said. "I would love to have it on TV - I think it is worthy of that."