Slick idea wins top award for Bristol inventor

A Bristol woman has been named the British female inventor of the year.

Denise Anstey, from Stoke Park, invented a lightweight walking stick after suffering mobility problems as a result of a car accident.

Earlier this year her Slik-Stik was launched at the Ideal Home Show and this week she received the British Female Inventors and Innovators Award for 2009.

Ms Anstey, 45, was honoured by the Global Women's Inventors and Innovators Network in Cardiff.

She used her own experiences to design the walking stick, which features lights, a magnet and a personal alarm to make life easier for people with mobility problems.

Ms Anstey was in her car when another went into the back of the vehicle, but her injuries were complicated by the fact that she turned around as she heard the squeal of wheels behind her.

The seatbelt cut across her spinal cord in the collision 11 years ago and caused her to lose about 90 per cent of movement in the upper right side of her body.

When the mother of two started walking again she felt very vulnerable, but would not use a stick.

Winning the award was a shock to Ms Anstey, who did not think she was in the running for the overall honour.

She said: "I knew I was there for a special recognition award and was nominated for two categories.

"I sat down and listened to the categories but did not win, so when the overall winner was announced I did not think I was in with a chance.

"But then I heard them say that the award was going to the inventor of the Slik-Stik and realised it was me.

"There must have been about 200 people there and everyone was clapping and looking at me. It was amazing.

" I was just overwhelmed and speechless. I was so honoured to have been awarded it because I was up against scientists and doctors."

It took Ms Anstey five years to get the Slik-Stik to the point where it could be sold, but in a matter of months it has won the approval of the inventor of the wind-up clockwork radio Trevor Baylis and the health minister Lord Darzi.

The walking stick is currently sold online, but Ms Anstey is keen for it to be available on the high street so that it is more accessible to her target audience.

She is now working on other inventions, which she hopes will help more people.

Ms Anstey, who used to co-ordinate the local neighbourhood watch while living in Pucklechurch, hopes the safety and security features will help vulnerable older people from attacks.

She is also a champion of responsible inventions that are not going to have a major impact on the environment.