More Than My Past

Tony Adams is an ex-England and Arsenal footballing legend, and in his own words, provides an unflinching account of his alcohol addiction during the early part of his playing career. Tracing this back to an injury setback at 17 years-old, Tony continued using alcohol heavily which contributed to a four-month prison sentence. On release, Tony remained in active addiction for a further six years. "For the first time in my life in April 96, I didn't want to drink no more...I crossed a line that I couldn't get back." Tony accessed support through therapy and his own self-discovery in which he acknowledges past trauma. Now approaching 30 years of sobriety, Tony recently became at The Forward Trust (2025).

Lennox Rogers is a mentor, coach, author and ex-offender. Recounting a troubled childhood of abuse, gang life and then being placed into care. On leaving school, Lennox was approached to become part of an organised crime gang where he was sent to prison. "I was broken, I didn't know what to do. I just wanted to change." On his release, Lennox was given an opportunity to make a change - finding a safe home and mission to support. "My life is just amazing, more than I ever could have imagined."

Patrick Lawson, a bus driver from London, shares his powerful story as an ex-offender and his alcohol addiction. With a difficult childhood involving physical abuse within his family, Patrick recounts this affecting his self-esteem. "If my Mother thinks I'm bad, I'm just gonna be bad." At 16, Patrick's life became complex becoming homeless after being kicked-out of home and then being arrested - leading to a custodial sentence. This cycle continued for 10 years, which led Patrick to a drug addiction. "The was my rock bottom" he says candidly. Now in recovery, Patrick loves his job. "Once upon a time I thought I was nothing...and now I'm being called London's happiest bus driver."

Lilly Lewis is a domestic abuse survivor and campaigner. After being sentenced to seven years imprisonment in 2016, she began to work with APPEAL’s Women’s Justice Initiative, using her story to campaign about the treatment of abused women by the criminal justice system. After her release in 2019, Lilly began working for the organisation In2Change, where she draws on her lived experience to educate young people about domestic abuse.

Lauren Burnett, founder of edgy fashion label Luella Rockerfella, talks about her incredible transformation for More Than My Past. "I was felt like something was missing, like I was hollow, like I needed to fill myself up with something." As a teenage heroin user, Lauren's rock bottom came following two admissions to hospital - and on becoming pregnant. Lauren now leads a new, fulfilling life in recovery with her husband and two children.

Chris Difford, frontman of legendary new wave group, Squeeze, shares his heartfelt story for More Than My Past. "The lowest ebb came in the middle of touring with Squeeze - I didn't really understand what was going on around me...alcohol and drugs is a great divider. And eventually, it just cracked." Now several years into recovery, Chris says, "It's about accepting what is happening to you and treating it in a way that you may not have done in the past."