Former Dawn House student Aidan Baker raised £1,034 for the Rainworth specialist school through a benefit wrestling show he helped to stage in memory of his late granddad, Edward South (Grandad Ted).

Aidan, 26, known as Aidan Sparx when he steps through the ropes, also donated the same amount to Derbyshire Autism Services.

Grandad Ted was a big supporter of events at Dawn House, but sadly died during the first lockdown last year. His family and Aidan wanted to give him a good send-off and succeeded with the wrestling show.

Local writer Alan Dawson, who worked with a young Aidan at Dawn House, met up with his former pupil — and attended the wrestling show — to raise awareness of the positive work at the school.

Aidan was diagnosed with autism aged three. His family received the diagnosis from doctors and were left with little information or guidance to help them move forward.

His mum, Julie Baker, contacted Derbyshire Autism Services and was subsequently introduced to a parent support group. Aidan and his family have since received continual support from the organisation, where Julie volunteers as a trustee. Derbyshire Autism Services.

Aidan first came to Dawn House School, aged five, in September 2000. Dawn House is an Ofsted outstanding school, part of the ICAN charity, offering specialist provision for students, aged five to 19, who are experiencing speech, language, and communication difficulties and /or Aspergers Syndrome.

In 2000 Aidan’s speech was profoundly impaired. He continued his education/ therapy at the school until he left in 2014, aged 19.

He worked hard to overcome his difficulties, taking full advantage of the opportunities and support that was on offer at Dawn House.

He also experienced extended evenings in the residency to help with independence and social skills. And a popular student amongst his schoolmates — some of whom he remains in contact with today — Aidan was voted Pupil Governor to represent his peers.

Further to this, in 2011 his artwork was selected for exhibition by the prestigious Mall Galleries in London and he attended the opening.

Three years later Aidan was invited back to receive the Shine A Light Person Of The Year Award from IV personality Anne Diamond.

Shine A Light is a platform to celebrate the inspirational work of individuals, providing support to young people with communication difficulties.

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Aidan continues to access specialist support today and has a support worker, who helps him develop independence skills.

Without a doubt, Aidan has had a challenging journey so far and his future will certainly throw up new challenges that he will find difficult to contend with.

However, with such a loving and supportive family around him, Aidan will certainly prevail. Julie, his father, Andy, and family are extremely proud of their son and would like this article to be an inspiration for other parents who are facing similar difficulties with their children.

Dawn House celebrates the achievements of its students, including successes they may enjoy long after leaving the school. Former students frequently keep in touch and often return to join in events.

Principal Jenny McConnell said: “Our students are impressive young people, and we are extremely proud of their achievements and of our school.”

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As a staff member at Dawn House and having worked with Aidan for several years, I was delighted to be invited to interview him at his flat in Chesterfield, where he lives independently.

I was welcomed at the door by a genial young man who I had not seen for seven years. He was not impressed with my newly-grown beard, however he proudly showed me around his flat, which is well-furnished and decorated to a high standard. It is also spotlessly clean and well-maintained.

Before I arrived, he had been batch cooking with his support worker and we joked about how I had taught him some of those domestic skills when he was at Dawn House.

We talked about his time at the school and he remembers most of the staff he worked with, including his first speech therapist and TA.

Structure is important for Aidan and with support he has established routines that help him to effectively navigate his journey through life. For two days of the week, he also volunteers at a Samaritans charity shop and is known to be a good worker by his colleagues.

Aidan began wrestling whilst at Dawn House and it was remarkable the difference the sport made to his confidence and wellbeing — it gave him focus and discipline that helped him to do well in other areas.

His trainer, the late Chris Travis, a former elite British wrestler, encouraged Aidan to channel his anger into his wrestling. He enthused about the sport and often played videos of his bouts for students and staff to watch.

Aidan’s initial interest in grappling came from a wrestling video his nanna, Kath, had picked up at a car boot sale and grandad Ted took his grandson ringside from the age of nine.

Aidan first trained in Grimsby, and such was the wonderful support of his parents, they bought a caravan on the East Lincolnshire coast so he could carry on accessing the training every weekend without having to travel long distances.

However, Aidan decided to move closer to home and was never happier than when he was training and competing with his mentors and friends, Kris Travis and Andy Hogg — known in the ring as Shooting Star and Pig Man respectively. This included training in Rotherham, where he had to catch three consecutive buses to arrive on time — which he achieved by repeatedly practising the journey with his support worker.

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Aidan currently trains at Pursuit Pro Wrestling (PPW), Sheffield, who were happy to help with the show after first being approached by Mansfield Woodhouse postman Glen Walton, another local wrestler known as Postie Malone in the ring.

Glen, well known in Mansfield Woodhouse for dressing in different costumes on his rounds to lift the Covid blues, was helped by Aidan when he entered the sport; they trained together and became tag partners.

On the night of the show I looked around to see some familiar faces in the crowd as Aidan received support from other former Dawn House students and their parents.

I sat transfixed as the wrestlers, such as Postie Malone, Adam Bolt, Dirt Bag, The Hangman – Harry Peerpoint, Ruby, Ivy etc. threw each other all over the place I was glad that I was on the outside of the ropes and away from the action!

Fortunately, the good guys won more matches than the bad guys, who were booed and jeered by an animated crowd.

Then it was time for the final event that we had all been waiting for, Aidan Sparx versus the colossal House of Pain, Stixx. Nottingham-based Stixx (Paul Grint), who has dominated the heavyweight scene for some time and has won international championships, had agreed to fight Aidan for a belt right in front of our eyes.

The fearsome Stixx stepped into the ring to a chorus of boos before Sparx whipped the crowd up into a frenzy.

When the fight began, Stixx immediately grabbed hold of the lighter wrestler and threw him all over, inflicting lots of pain. I noticed one of Aidan’s friends took his jacket off and was about to step in and help his mate out of the onslaught.

However, he need not have worried because the resilient Sparx began to turn the tables on his muscular nemesis as the bigger man began to tire. At the end of the fight, it was Aidan who held the belt aloft for his cheering fans.

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As I listened to Aidan introduce himself to the audience before the show began, I was overwhelmed with pride for our former student and everyone who has supported and taught him over the years.

I remember him as a young boy enthusiastically bouncing around the Dawn House corridors on a Space Hopper with a member of the team struggling to keep up with him.

To know Aidan is a positive experience. In the same way that he overcomes opponents in the wrestling ring, he works hard and is determined to overcomes difficulties that may emerge throughout the course of his life.

Ted, without a doubt, would be very proud of his grandson and would have enjoyed every minute of the wrestling show that he facilitated.