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A lot of death
Mar. 24th, 2021 04:43 pmMick has posted his reaction to the recent deaths of David Shutt, Tony Greaves and Sylvia Smithson. I knew David and Tony from early in my time in the Liberal Party/Young Liberals. In fact, I remember Tony and his wife Heather at the first Party Conference I attended as a student in 1966 or 1967. They were organising the YLs and Liberal Students to use our votes and speeches effectively to get our preferred policies passed at the Conference: he continued to influence and organise like-minded Liberals/Lib Dems for many years into the future.
Not much has been said about Heather Greaves in the outpouring of grief for Tony's death. Tony achieved wonderful things in the Party and for the country, particularly during his time in the Lords when he was already suffering increasing ill health: his last speech in the house was only days ago. It seems very obvious to me that Tony could not have made the impact he did without the love and support Heather provided. They were a very together couple.
If all that was not enough, I have just opened Facebook and found a post from another old friend, Jonathan Fryer, to wish goodbye to us all as he is dying of an incurable brain tumour. I last saw him at the Lib Dem International Relations Committee Meeting in mid-February. He chaired it without any obvious signs of ill health: maybe he did not even know about it then. Jonathan was a journalist who led a very interesting life covering many many complex international situations. Mick's parents also knew him well and campaigned with him several times when he tried to become a member of the European Parliament.
David, Tony and Sylvia were a few years older than I am. Jonathan is an almost exact contemporary: we were both at school in Manchester at the same time but never met till years later.
I think this all reinforces the impression I have that most people have been suffering unbelievable stress over the past 12 months of Covid and that we all need to take better care of our health. Mick and I have certainly worked at losing weight and eating a much healthier diet. He is doing lots of exercise. I have not been, but now I feel I must at the least do more than I have been doing.
Of course, as the daughter of a Methodist Minister, I am well aware that winter, particularly a cold winter, carries off many more people than summer. Winter plus stress is a nasty combination.
Take care. Keep safe. Relax.
Not much has been said about Heather Greaves in the outpouring of grief for Tony's death. Tony achieved wonderful things in the Party and for the country, particularly during his time in the Lords when he was already suffering increasing ill health: his last speech in the house was only days ago. It seems very obvious to me that Tony could not have made the impact he did without the love and support Heather provided. They were a very together couple.
If all that was not enough, I have just opened Facebook and found a post from another old friend, Jonathan Fryer, to wish goodbye to us all as he is dying of an incurable brain tumour. I last saw him at the Lib Dem International Relations Committee Meeting in mid-February. He chaired it without any obvious signs of ill health: maybe he did not even know about it then. Jonathan was a journalist who led a very interesting life covering many many complex international situations. Mick's parents also knew him well and campaigned with him several times when he tried to become a member of the European Parliament.
David, Tony and Sylvia were a few years older than I am. Jonathan is an almost exact contemporary: we were both at school in Manchester at the same time but never met till years later.
I think this all reinforces the impression I have that most people have been suffering unbelievable stress over the past 12 months of Covid and that we all need to take better care of our health. Mick and I have certainly worked at losing weight and eating a much healthier diet. He is doing lots of exercise. I have not been, but now I feel I must at the least do more than I have been doing.
Of course, as the daughter of a Methodist Minister, I am well aware that winter, particularly a cold winter, carries off many more people than summer. Winter plus stress is a nasty combination.
Take care. Keep safe. Relax.
