Teacher, 58, battling devastating disease gives final inspirational lecture to pupils but dies before getting to see the film his son made of the talk
- Paul Norman from Essex was diagnosed with Multiple System Atrophy in 2012
- The disease robbed him of his ability to speak, walk and care for himself
- But before he died he gave one last inspirational talk at Billericay School, Essex
This heartbreaking video captures the moment a brave and beloved teacher battling a horrific disorder gave one last inspirational lecture.
Paul Norman
This tragically came after he had been misdiagnosed as having Parkinson's disease - which forced him to retire from his beloved profession at just 49 in 2004.
![Paul Norman, left, was diagnosed with Multiple System Atrophy in 2012 which robbed his ability to speak, walk and care for himself](http://web.archive.org./web/20170208140901/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/08/11/3CF402A600000578-4203050-image-a-12_1486553685915.jpg)
Paul Norman, left, was diagnosed with Multiple System Atrophy in 2012 which robbed his ability to speak, walk and care for himself
But instead of letting the neurological disorder beat him the teacher of 25 years battled on and managed to pass on his wisdom for a final time to a packed hall.
His struggle was captured on camera by son Will Norman
Despite not being able to speak he played the lecture from his iPad, smiled and gestured - telling the assembled students and teachers how he had treasured his time there.
Scanning the room Mr Norman, told his audience of his devastating struggle - which his son filmed for moving documentary 'One Last Lecture'.
University of Sussex student Will sat beside his dying dad laughing at his jokes and quips - as well as nodding at his message.
Tragically just nine months later, in April last year, the beloved teacher died, aged 58, having succumbed to the disease.
![Mr Norman's struggle was captured on camera by son Will Norman, 22, left](http://web.archive.org./web/20170208140901/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/08/11/3CF4027A00000578-4203050-image-a-13_1486553875600.jpg)
Mr Norman's struggle was captured on camera by son Will Norman, 22, left
![Will arranged for his wheelchair-bound father to go back into Billericay School, Essex, where he taught English for 15 years](http://web.archive.org./web/20170208140901/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/08/11/3CF4027000000578-4203050-image-a-14_1486553879465.jpg)
Will arranged for his wheelchair-bound father to go back into Billericay School, Essex, where he taught English for 15 years
![During the heart-wrenching talk he jokes about having 'a better voice than Stephen Hawking' and passes on important life lessons](http://web.archive.org./web/20170208140901/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/08/11/3CF4028700000578-4203050-image-a-15_1486553882794.jpg)
During the heart-wrenching talk he jokes about having 'a better voice than Stephen Hawking' and passes on important life lessons
During the heart-wrenching talk he jokes about having 'a better voice than Stephen Hawking' and passes on important life lessons.
He said: 'I'm doing this partly to educate you about disability; people have a habit of assuming that because the body doesn't function properly the brain doesn't either.
'But in reality the vast majority of disabled people function the same mentally with all of the same feelings and emotional needs as everyone else.
![Old footage of Paul Norman teaching at the school in Essex before his condition took hold](http://web.archive.org./web/20170208140901/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/08/11/3CF402DB00000578-4203050-image-a-16_1486553892745.jpg)
Old footage of Paul Norman teaching at the school in Essex before his condition took hold
!['The last time most of you saw me I was a different person, I now have Multiple System Atrophy, or MSA for short,' he began](http://web.archive.org./web/20170208140901/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/08/11/3CF402F200000578-4203050-image-a-17_1486553896812.jpg)
'The last time most of you saw me I was a different person, I now have Multiple System Atrophy, or MSA for short,' he began
'It is frustrating of course being trapped inside a body that doesn't work and frustrating for the people that care for me.
'The other day I was moving my hand to scratch my nose and my carer thought I was signalling for my glasses.
'And recently my mum asked me what I would like to eat for me tea and I said tiramisu and she thought I said tin of soup.
'It's very confusing.'
Mr Norman then goes on to tell the packed hall: 'In fact some of the things I have learnt I will share with you as being disabled as I am enables me to gain insight into what really matters in life.
'When I see the atrocities that people commit I wonder how far human beings have yet to evolve.
'War is pointless, there are many good things about this world and most people are good.
![Paul Norman with his son Will, 22, who has made a moving documentary about his dad's struggle](http://web.archive.org./web/20170208140901/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/08/11/3CF4029D00000578-4203050-image-a-18_1486553901203.jpg)
Paul Norman with his son Will, 22, who has made a moving documentary about his dad's struggle
'They should look at the positive side of people rather than the faults.
'Health is more important than money and the world is still a beautiful place.
'Now enough of this before I turn into John Lennon.'
Will, who filmed his Dad to raise awareness on the disease, said the lecture had been inspirational for both the pupils and his father.
![Paul Norman with his carer as his disease left him unable to walk, talk or care for himself](http://web.archive.org./web/20170208140901/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/08/11/3CF4029300000578-4203050-image-a-19_1486553905840.jpg)
Paul Norman with his carer as his disease left him unable to walk, talk or care for himself
![Will's 66 minute film also harrowingly captures his dad's struggle and has sparked admiration and tributes from those who knew and were taught by his father](http://web.archive.org./web/20170208140901/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/08/11/3CF402B200000578-4203050-image-a-20_1486553909349.jpg)
Will's 66 minute film also harrowingly captures his dad's struggle and has sparked admiration and tributes from those who knew and were taught by his father
![Paul Norman was diagnosed with Multiple System Atrophy in 2012 which robbed his ability to speak, walk and care for himself](http://web.archive.org./web/20170208140901/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/08/11/3CF402C300000578-4203050-image-a-21_1486553913795.jpg)
Paul Norman was diagnosed with Multiple System Atrophy in 2012 which robbed his ability to speak, walk and care for himself
He said: 'Every time I saw him after the lecture, he carried that moment with him.
'I think it gave him something, I don't want to say to live for, but he gave him something to cling on to and live with.
'With him being disabled there were so many people caring for him that had him in their hearts.
'It really reinvigorated him.'
Will's 66 minute film also harrowingly captures his dad's struggle and has sparked admiration and tributes from those who knew and were taught by his father.
His brave battle against MSA, which is caused by the shrinking of nerve cells in the brain, is available online - but tragically his father never saw a finished version of the movie.
He said: 'He never got to see the final version of the film and sometimes I wish I could have finished it sooner.
'He never got to see the reaction from hundreds of people saying how much of an inspiration he was.'
!['He never got to see the reaction from hundreds of people saying how much of an inspiration he was.'](http://web.archive.org./web/20170208140901/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/08/11/3CF402C900000578-4203050-image-a-22_1486553917818.jpg)
'He never got to see the reaction from hundreds of people saying how much of an inspiration he was.'
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