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I Care: Anne
Anne Blanche, 80, lives in Kingston, Surrey, and is a Carers UK
Ambassador and longtime carer. As an only child, but part of a large
family network, Anne has spent her life taking on caring roles for both
family and friends. Here, Anne talks about her life long experience of
caring and some of the inspirational people she has met along the way.
Caring just happens.
You don’t plan for it. You
just do it. But you have to
make time for yourself too.
I always say one hour a day
just for me. That would be
my top tip – making time
for yourself. Ensure your
own health and wellbeing is
cared for.
I cannot remember not ever
being a carer but I never
really identified myself as
one initially. I remember
first helping my mother
just after the Coronation in
1953, so I was about 14 and
in the middle of studying for
my GCE exams. Our family
business was struggling until
I was able to leave school
at 16 and help out both
practically and financially;
although my salary was
miniscule at that time!
lasted until I retired in 2003.
My very first job in Derby
brought me into contact
with an extraordinary and
exceptional man, the late
B Howard Chubb OBE. He
was way ahead of his time,
a fact I only recognised
late in my career. Any
employees who had caring
responsibilities, or those
who had other issues
holding them back, were
given every encouragement
and support throughout
their employment. I was
no exception. Mr Chubb
made sure I was fully
supported and enabled me
to progress from a junior
clerk to, many years later
in 1974, a senior HR post in
the Central District of the
Derby Area Health Authority.
Even in that stressful
high-powered job he made
sure I was able to fulfil my
caring responsibilities for my
mother, who died in 1975,
and also my father who die