by Graham Peacock, volunteer at CoolTan Arts

The Largactyl Shuffle is a history walk taking place once a month, organised by Cooltan Arts. On the 11^th October 2008 a sponsored version of the walk took place to coincide with World Mental Health Day. I was one of the sponsored walkers. The route followed that day was the same as the history walks. It winds its way from the starting point at the Maudsley Hospital through a maze of backstreets and squares to the river by Southwark Cathedral and on, the short distance to the Tate Modern. A distance of about four miles.

The sponsored walk took place in brilliant sunshine and pleasant warmth. Ari gave a history talk about Camberwell, Walworth, Borough and the South Bank. As the walk left St. Peters Churchyard in Walworth, a poetry reading was given in the neighbouring small park, and then the walk split into two – a slower, continued history walk and a faster walk to the Tate Modern. I joined the fast walk.

The name ‘Largactyl Shuffle’ comes from the common side-effects of the powerful tranquilliser Chloropromazine, (Largactyl). A medium to large dose of this medicine can render a hospital patient unenergetic enough to do little else but sleep, sit in a chair or shuffle about on the ward Not for nothing is this drug nicknamed the ‘liquid cosh!’

The regular walks are a good opportunity to highlight mental illness and a chance for sufferers to engage with the local community. I’m glad I had a chance to raise some money for Cooltan Arts.

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