A FATHER of four, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour after a routine hearing test is encouraging the public to join him and his family for Tumour Awareness Day on July 3.

Richard Taylor, 41, had just started work as a driving instructor when he began experiencing hearing loss.

Though his MRI scan in 2007 was clear, by 2011 the hearing had almost all gone in his left ear, with doctors unable to explain why.

Wife Jacquie, 47, said: “I persuaded him to go back and see why it was getting worse. In my book, you do not just go deaf.”

Six weeks later, Richard was called in to see a consultant, who told him he had a large acoustic neuroma, a brain tumour.

The tumour was 6.5cm and had been growing since 2007, since Richard’s first hearing problems.

Mrs Taylor said: “On leaving the hospital in 2011, we were given no information, no medical assistance.

“We didn't know anything about brain tumours. Once we got home, we were just left to get on with our lives, which had changed dramatically.”

Richard had surgery to remove most of the tumour in August 2011. It took 14 hours to save his life.

Mrs Taylor said: “Richard’s balance had gone, so he needed assistance with walking, going upstairs. He needed help getting into our bath. Everyday things he had taken for granted had now ceased and he had to learn from scratch.

“His memory isn't how it was. His personality is different and he gets so frustrated with being unable to do things he used to do in half the time.”

Only by finding a local support group were the Taylors, of Gildea Close, Pinner, able to find the answers they had been searching for.

Hillingdon Brain Tumour Group, founded by Becky and Cyril Haggar, meets twice a month, every second Thursday, 1-3 pm, and every last Saturday, 12-2pm, at Hillingdon Baptist Church, Hercies Road.

It is open to anyone suffering from or supporting someone who has a brain tumour, brain injury or epilepsy, to make new friends and be there for each other.

Tumour Awareness Day, arranged by the group, is taking place on July 3 from 9:30am-1:30pm at the Civic Centre, Uxbridge. It is to encourage others to join, raise funds and stress the importance of early diagnosis.

Mrs Taylor said: “We want the medical profession to check for tumours in the first place, to rule them out.

“It devastated our life, but, through being strong, we have managed to get back up again and Richard is on the road to recovery.”

For more information, search: Hillingdonbraintumourgroup on Facebook, #BrainTumourSupport on Twitter or visit www.hbtg.org.uk