THE MEAD 10
THANKS TO GREENWAY FROM BERT ��: ���� ������� ��������� ��������, ��� ������� ��������� ��� �����
I
was born in Southmead in 1951. I went to Greenway Boys School from 1962 - 1966. I went to work at Bri�sh Aircra� Corpora�on (BAC) working on Concorde for many years. I met and married a Southmead girl a�er two failed marriages, but Grace Arpino was different. We were very happy for many years. In 2005 Grace was diagnosed with breast cancer. A�er major surgery she came home with a posi�ve a�tude and lived life to the full. In 2016 she got the all-clear, but four years later she was told she had bone cancer, and it was affec�ng her organs. Again, Grace stayed posi�ve and was my rock! She lost her fight for life on 19th January 2022, and that, my friends, was the date I thought my life was over. I would not leave the house unless it was dark, and did not want to talk to anyone. Then, a�er two years, a flyer came through my le�erbox. It was about the Walk and Talk group at Greenway. I phoned the number on it and went along the following week. I nearly bo�led out but the walk leader, Ben, met me in recep�on. That walk changed and saved my life. Thank you, Ben. I have been on every walk since and made many friends. Then, a friend of my wife, who knew that I was suffering, invited me to the Grief Café. Sher Fowler, the leader, is a magic person. I have since joined Southmead Men’s Space and Horizon Disability Friend Group. I also do Batch Cooking with Travelling Kitchen, Lung Health group, Coffee Morning, and even Be�y’s Pom-pom making group. On top of all that I am now a Trustee for the Southmead Development Trust. My life now means something, and Grace would be very proud of me. I would like to thank the staff, the members, and everyone who uses Greenway. It surely saved and changed my life. I now believe I make a difference to others too. Please do not do what I did and go into a shell, there are people out there that can help you as well.