A Tribute to Owen Clinton 1950 – 2014 Beloved Brother and Carer of Dora Family Carer Rep on Islington’s Learning Disability Partnership Board Adult Education Teacher Musician Actor Owen and I first met when he joined the Family Carers Reference Group, helping us represent our views to Council managers. He was relatively unusual in our group for being Dora’s brother, whereas most of us were parents, and had managed the ups and downs of coping with disability and the various services since our children were born. He brought a fresher view, having been a carer in the formal sense for only 10 years. Everything he contributed was pithy, perceptive and cut through what I will politely call waffle. He was always amazed at how much jargon we had to understand when dealing with services. We appreciated him very much. Ten years ago, Owen took early retirement when his frail mother could no longer look after his sister Dora on her own. They moved in with Owen and his partner Mary, who supported him unstintingly in his caring role. Three years later his mother died, and Owen became Dora’s main carer. Their affection for each other was a delight to see. In his teaching post at Southgate College, his great achievement was to pioneer a bridging course for disadvantaged youngsters so they could take qualifying courses. Once retired he had more time for his beloved music, as the talented lead guitarist in the Irish band Chief O’Neill. With Mary’s support he was able to fulfill a long held ambition to train as an actor, and performed in a number of plays. The high point for him was when he appeared in a play in Dublin, to a full house, in the same theatre where his father had directed a number of productions. In the last three years he took on a more active role, becoming a family carer representative on the Learning Disability Partnership Board. There are two of his contributions which will carry on to the benefit of all of us. The first was when he took over facilitating the Way Forward Group for family carers wanting to think about and plan ahead for the future of their disabled relatives. He introduced new ideas into it, but most significantly in the last year when he knew he was facing terminal illness he made us look at the difficult issues of ensuring the well being of our relatives after we are gone. The second was his involvement in a training DVD that the Family Carers Reference Group have made in partnership with Islington Council. It is called “Learn With Us” and will help front line support staff, and others, who look after our disabled relatives to work better with families – not always easy on either side. Owen is a real star in this film, making strong and thoughtful contributions about the experience of being a family carer. Dora moved last year into a supported living house in Islington, looked after by Centre 404. She is happy and settled there, and it was a great relief and comfort to Owen that her move was so successful. Owen was a man of many talents and achievements, who was a special and valued member of the Family Carers Reference Group. We will miss him very much. Our condolences go to Mary, Dora and his extended family. Clare Palmer * “The Way Forward Group” will relaunch as “Future Planning for Family Carers” at Islington Learning Disability Partnership, 52d, Drayton Park, N5 1NS. For further information see page 9 or contact Anna McGrath at ILDP anna.mcgrath@islington.gov.uk or 020 7527 3956, Wednesday to Friday.
5