Suit made for Ed Freeman's Wedding

Black tailored suit consisting of a black tuxedo jacket with green silk lining with matching black trousers, made for Ed Freeman for his wedding in 1991 made by tailor John Virgo at JH Pakeman & Sons Ltd, Swindon & Circenster, England, made in April 1991

Worn on his first wedding day, the suit gave Ed Freeman, a chance to express his sense of style. It was also tailored to fit him as Ed has shortened limbs, an impairment caused by thalidomide.

Ed Freeman was one of at least 500 children in Britain born with impairments caused by thalidomide. His mother had pneumonia while pregnant with him and took thalidomide to help her sleep on medical advice. After just two tablets, her hands started to tingle so she stopped. Unknown at the time this caused impairments to Ed. He and his family continue to be active in the Thalidomide Society, campaigning for people living with thalidomide impairments and their families. Ed is a father to two children, stepfather to two further children and a graphic artist.

Thalidomide was a compound found in drugs prescribed to people in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Although today it is associated primarily as a treatment for pregnancy related nausea, it was also prescribed to anyone experiencing symptoms of colds, flu, headaches, anxiety, and insomnia. Thalidomide causes nerve damage in the hands and feet of adults, but when taken in early pregnancy it causes impairments such as limb difference, sight loss, hearing loss, facial paralysis, and impact to internal organs. One tablet is enough to cause significant impairments. Researchers later identified that there was a link between the impairment a person is living with, and which day of the pregnancy thalidomide was taken. UK distributors withdrew the drug in 1961 and a government warning was issued in May 1962.