---
title: "Tom Bidwell"
url: "https://balshaws.org.uk/about-the-school/pride-of-balshaw-s/tom-bidwell"
school: "Balshaw’s Church of England High School"
---

# Tom Bidwell

### Tom Dalton Bidwell – Actor, Writer, Screenwriter

![](https://balshaws.org.uk/images/pages/c7124513e004ab79f1b6fb9d9c6698a9.jpg)

Tom left Balshaw's Church of England High School in 2001.

Tom was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 1999, aged 14, and wrote these poems while awaiting a bone marrow transplant.

He studied literature and drama at university.

*COS COWARDS GET CANCER TOO*

*SCARY THOUGHTS*

*When you’re tired and weary,*
**And things don’t go your way,*
*And people take for granted that*
*They’ll see another day.**

*When you’re so afraid,*
**That tears burn your eyes,*
*When you ask important questions,*
*But never get replies.**

*When you haven’t got the answers,*
**And don’t know what to do.*
*When you don’t deserve what’s happening.*
*So why’s it happening to you?**

*When people think they know,*
**How you feel deep down inside,*
*And you say you’re not afraid,*
*When you’re really petrified.**

*When you think there is no heaven,*
**And feel like you’re in hell,*
*When you can’t recall at all*
*What it feels like to be well.**

*When everyone has left you,*
**Except a certain few.*
*It’s all right to be afraid*
*‘Cos cowards get cancer too.**

*Sometimes when I’m alone at night*
**I’ll try to get away*
*From all the pain and sickness*
*That I feel during the day**

*But it’s hard*
**And scary thoughts still filter through*
*My mind*
*And I’m looking for some answers*
*Which I know I’ll never find**

*I try to make the effort*
**Even though I feel bad*
*And I try to keep on smiling*
*Even though inside I’m sad**

*But it’s hard when scary thoughts*
**Filter through my mind*
*Looking long and hard for answers*
*I know I’ll never find**

*And I try to keep my faith*
**With a God I cannot see*
*And every night I pray*
*But he doesn’t answer me**

*It’s hard when scary thoughts*
**Filter through your head*
*Don’t bother looking for answers*
*Think happy thoughts instead.**

His first play, Risky & Fluke, won the Sunday Times NSDF Award and recently finished a tour of Europe.

His radio play Things To Do Before You Die was aired on BBC Radio 4 to great acclaim

Tom is also currently engaged in co-writing (with Mark Catley) some episodes of Casualty for the BBC.

    **Balshaw’s Church of England High School**
 Church Road
 Leyland PR25 3AH

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