Legacy
Legacy
Please note: this post is 106 months old and The Cares Family is no longer operational. This post is shared for information only
I recently met Frank. Frank is 93 and lives in West Norwood. I was there to chat to him and other neighbours in his housing block about the social clubs South London Cares runs nearby, and the hundreds of young people who come along each month because they want to get to know older people in their area like him.
“Let me stop you there”, he said entirely politely, “I’m not interesting enough for young people. They wouldn’t want to talk to me.”
I think this was intended as final, but I – probably to Frank’s frustration – offered an answer anyway.
“Everyone’s got their own unique stories. I bet you’ve got tales that seem boring to you but would open up new worlds, bring to life unknown eras and impart wisdom to the person who’s listening to you, whatever age they are”.
He didn’t seem convinced and we got chatting about other things.
Five minutes of conversation later and I was utterly in awe of Frank, and baffled as to how he could possibly think he wasn’t interesting. Frank let slip how he’d spent his 21st birthday. As a bomber in the Second World War (the most dangerous command), he’d been shot down over Germany in 1943.
He survived, only to be interned as a prisoner of war in Leipzig. We also spoke about the place he called home: Frank was born in West Norwood (on the site of what is now the fire station) in 1922. Other than those years as a prisoner, West Norwood has always been his patch.
The short chat held some of the most fascinating stories I’ve ever been lucky enough to hear. It also led me to think about that voice that I believe we’ve all had in our head at some point; the one Frank articulated that asks, "why would they want to talk to me?"; that questions what we have to offer and stops us getting involved in all sorts of activities and interactions, day by day.
Whatever age we are, there’s a tendency amongst most to underestimate how much our experiences, passions and opinions would not only interest – but also bring joy to – other people.
And of course, you don’t have to have celebrated a significant birthday as a PoW to share a great story. In the last fortnight I’ve also met Derek, who described working at The Daily Herald in the 1940s and striking under Rupert Murdoch in the 1980s. I’ve met Irene who’s shared tips on where to get the best bamboo in south London. And I’ve met Rosie who’s off to Italy in her seventies to teach painting, Kay who tends a secret garden in Peckham, and countless others with hidden histories and anecdotes that bring tears and laughter in equal measure.
We are all more curious, more interested and more interesting people than we give ourselves credit for. Sometimes we just need to listen to the people around us and let people hear our stories – and not bother with any voices in our minds telling us otherwise.