Missing man at The Lee!
By Jane Marsh
"When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we’ve no money for butter……
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick the flowers in other peoples’ gardens
And learn to spit." (Jenny Joseph)
…and I hope I’m still living in this village. I say this because over the last few months I’ve become aware of the way in which this village looks after those who find themselves in need of thoughtful ‘looking out for’.
First there were amazing efforts to help one ‘kidnapped’ elderly resident to return to where she wanted to be. I also hear of people who made sure another elderly, confused resident disorientated and probably having spent a night in the woods in the car got home (with the car towed out too); people in the village mobilised to help look out for someone else who while walking the dog missed her turning and ended up in Missenden instead of back home.
Those of you who heard about Calvin, the elderly gentleman found wandering in the village confused and not knowing where he was one Sunday, who, having finally been persuaded he wasn’t being a bother and should have something to eat and drink was discovered to have gone missing from Leicester two days before. His family who came to collect him are so grateful to everyone who made sure he was safe and have just sent a card to let us know he has decided to return to his native Jamaica to live out his final days on his small farm.
We wish him a happy old age from all his friends in the Lee. I hear of people who notice if someone’s curtains have not been opened as usual and ‘just check’ and I’m sure I don’t hear the half of it. Winter is coming on now and the flu season approaches and even though I’ve got my own bus pass I don’t expect to need your ‘looking out for’ this year myself, I do hope that all of us will continue to be aware of those around us who may be in need of someone just ‘keeping a Lee look out’.
By Jane Marsh
"When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we’ve no money for butter……
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick the flowers in other peoples’ gardens
And learn to spit." (Jenny Joseph)
…and I hope I’m still living in this village. I say this because over the last few months I’ve become aware of the way in which this village looks after those who find themselves in need of thoughtful ‘looking out for’.
First there were amazing efforts to help one ‘kidnapped’ elderly resident to return to where she wanted to be. I also hear of people who made sure another elderly, confused resident disorientated and probably having spent a night in the woods in the car got home (with the car towed out too); people in the village mobilised to help look out for someone else who while walking the dog missed her turning and ended up in Missenden instead of back home.
Those of you who heard about Calvin, the elderly gentleman found wandering in the village confused and not knowing where he was one Sunday, who, having finally been persuaded he wasn’t being a bother and should have something to eat and drink was discovered to have gone missing from Leicester two days before. His family who came to collect him are so grateful to everyone who made sure he was safe and have just sent a card to let us know he has decided to return to his native Jamaica to live out his final days on his small farm.
We wish him a happy old age from all his friends in the Lee. I hear of people who notice if someone’s curtains have not been opened as usual and ‘just check’ and I’m sure I don’t hear the half of it. Winter is coming on now and the flu season approaches and even though I’ve got my own bus pass I don’t expect to need your ‘looking out for’ this year myself, I do hope that all of us will continue to be aware of those around us who may be in need of someone just ‘keeping a Lee look out’.