Timothy Clews, 64, an electronics engineer and former pub landlord from Bulkington, Warwickshire, was living an active and independent life when he began experiencing stroke-like symptoms, including difficulty walking and weakness down his left side. What was first thought to be a stroke was later confirmed as a high-grade glioma, likely glioblastoma, an aggressive and incurable brain tumour. Tim has since undergone palliative whole-brain radiotherapy and receives community support to help manage his symptoms. As Tim and his family adapt to life with an incurable illness, his daughter Joanne Bassett completed the Brain Tumour Research 99 Miles in November Challenge to raise awareness and funds in his honour.
Here is Tim’s story, as told by his daughter, Joanne…
Dad has always been the life and soul of the party. He’s fun, hardworking, and someone who could strike up a conversation with anyone. He’s well-travelled – despite hating flying – and has always loved electronics, radio-controlled models, fishing, motorbikes, boating holidays, socialising, and anything with a bit of spice on the plate.
One of my favourite memories of Dad is from my wedding in Cuba. The day before the ceremony, he’d been out on a catamaran trip and got chatting to the skipper, who asked if he liked cigars and wanted to buy some. Dad agreed, thinking nothing of it. Later that evening, slightly tipsy, he met someone on a motorbike at the resort to collect them – only to be chased by hotel security and wrestled to the ground. They thought he had something illegal, but once they realised it was just cigars, they let him go. He almost didn’t make my wedding day, but we laugh about it often. That’s Dad – spontaneous, silly, and full of stories.
In early July 2025, Dad had been walking strangely for a few days, but he put it down to sciatica.
On Saturday 5th July, he went to work as usual in the morning, then went out for a few drinks with his good friend Steve later that day. When I spoke to him on the phone around 5pm, he seemed okay. But Steve noticed that Dad wasn’t himself and was struggling to use his left arm and leg properly. Concerned, Steve took him straight to A&E at George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton.
At around 7pm, Dad rang me from the hospital. I missed the call but rang back immediately – it wasn’t like him to call twice in one evening. He sounded emotional and told me he thought he might be having a stroke. Knowing how much he hated hospitals, I went straight to be with him.
A CT scan at George Eliot Hospital didn’t show a stroke. After almost 24 hours in A&E, Dad was admitted to a ward and later given an MRI scan. A doctor briefly mentioned the possibility of a small tumour but didn’t provide any further detail. When I asked questions, there didn’t seem to be clear answers.
Dad was later transferred to University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW), where it was explained that he would need an MRI scan with contrast to better understand what was happening. He was discharged home while awaiting further investigations, where he lived with his 87-year-old mum, Ann.
During this time, Dad’s mobility deteriorated. His left arm became weaker, and he struggled to walk even short distances.
Despite everything, we went ahead with a previously booked family holiday to the Norfolk Broads. Dad’s mobility wasn’t great, but with the help of a borrowed wheelchair, we adapted and made the most of our time together, creating memories when we could.
Further scans were arranged, including imaging at Rugby St Cross Hospital, and on 14th August, we received the news that changed everything.
At an appointment at UHCW, Dad was told he had a glioma – a deep-seated brain tumour that grows quickly. He was told he may only have around six months to live and that the weakness in his arm and leg would not improve. A biopsy was offered, but it was described as very high-risk, as reaching the tumour would involve passing through healthy brain tissue and could cause serious bleeding. Dad decided against it.
He was offered blind radiotherapy as a possible option to help shrink the tumour, although there were no guarantees. Dad agreed.
After a further period of uncertainty, we attended an appointment at the Arden Cancer Centre at UHCW on 11th September, where a more detailed diagnosis was given.
Dad was diagnosed with a high-grade glioma, likely glioblastoma – an aggressive and incurable form of brain cancer
The diagnosis was made radiologically, and a plan for palliative whole-brain radiotherapy was confirmed.
Breaking the news to the rest of the family was heartbreaking. Dad’s sister Julie has been incredible throughout. She took time off work to care for him and now looks after him full-time. Dad has moved from Bulkington to live with Julie in Bedworth, where she stays in his room at night and provides exceptional care.
Dad has since completed six sessions of radiotherapy and is awaiting a follow-up appointment with his consultant.
The side effects have been difficult – blurred vision, severe fatigue, restlessness, agitation, and increasing weakness on his left side. Some of these symptoms have improved with dexamethasone prescribed by the community palliative care team, although it has brought its own challenges. Day-to-day life can be hard, but Dad is surrounded by love and support from his family.
Watching someone you love go through this changes everything.
That’s why I took on the 99 Miles in November challenge last year, raising funds for Brain Tumour Research.
I felt I needed to do something meaningful because brain tumours are so poorly understood and research is underfunded. Even if it may not help Dad, I hoped it could help someone else in the future.
Throughout November, I combined walking and running – mostly walking – with my dog Teddy by my side. Family and friends supported me every step of the way, joining me when they could and keeping me going when it felt tough. What started as a modest £150 fundraising target grew beyond anything I imagined, and by the end of the challenge I had raised more than £3,000.
That amount is enough to fund an entire day of research at the Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence at the University of Nottingham, which is focused on finding a cure for glioblastoma. Knowing that something positive has come from such a difficult time means more than I can put into words.
More than anything, completing the challenge was about making my dad proud and showing him just how much he means to us all.
If there’s one thing this journey has taught me, it’s not to be afraid to ask for support or to ask questions. Talk about the difficult things early on, then try to enjoy the simple moments and make memories while you can.
It still shocks me how little funding goes into research for brain tumours. These diseases are complex, devastating, and life-limiting, yet they remain one of the most underfunded areas of cancer research. It would mean the world to know that more is being done – so that one day, fewer families have to face this heartbreak.
Joanne Bassett
March 2026
One in three people in the UK knows someone affected by a brain tumour. This disease is indiscriminate; it can affect anyone at any age. What’s more, brain tumours continue to kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer yet, to date, just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease since records began in 2002.
Brain Tumour Research is determined to change this.
If you have been inspired by Tim’s story, you may like to make a donation via www.braintumourresearch.org/donate or leave a gift in your will via www.braintumourresearch.org/legacy
Together we will find a cure.
