This is caring
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.
In 1966 it became
necessary for me to return
to the UK to care for my
parents and, back in Derby,
I found myself working in a
number of roles for Howard
Chubb at the Derbyshire
Royal Infirmary. This I
did, still being given the
same support as a carer to
enable me to continue in
a stressful, high-powered
post until 1982 following the
death of both my parents.
After a short break I
moved to London as chief
executive of the Hounslow
and Spelthorne Community
18
In 1963 I was given the
opportunity to travel and
I went via the USA to
Australia. Here again I met
the most amazing people,
some of them whom
changed my entire life.
One of them became my
lifetime support from 1964
until his death in California
just three years ago; Dr
Piero Ariotti was the real
driving force behind me.
Scholar, philosopher, and
campaigner, and now that
support is no longer there,
for the first time in my life I
am beginning to know what
loneliness is.
Health Council (CHC). It was
here that I met another
exceptional person who was
working in the voluntary
sector, Mrs Cherna Crome
MBE, Chair of Carers UK at
that time. We collaborated
on many projects and I am
proud to say we are still firm
friends to date.
I am a member of a number
of groups in my local area.
This provides a change and
relief from a busy work
schedule. I love to meet
people and travel, often
combining my love of art,
literature, music and history,
visiting family and friends in
the USA, Canada, Australia
and New Zealand, as well as
much of Europe. I’m never
‘off duty’. I will always drop
less important things to help
others in need.
In the absence of local
groups then people, like
me, help to start them.
At present I am helping a
fellow Rotarian to set up a
befriending service for local
people. There are many
people out there who never
hear a human voice, unless
on TV or radio, for weeks
on end. In the past, I have
helped a local organisation
replace funding for a valued
Young Carers ‘Cook and Eat’
project. I am campaigning
with local residents to stop
Blue Badge holders being
charged to park in a local
hospital and we are now
investigating the sudden
withdrawal of the local
carersuk.org