Each time I attend a Mayoral engagement I meet many people each of whom has a story to tell.
So many fascinating people from the ladies who have recently completed a breast feeding peer support course to the many who have helped to contribute to a book called ‘ A Crawley Childhood’ which was launched this week as part of the Road to Crawley project.
The book provided details of people living and growing up in Crawley before it became a New Town.
But there are some people I particularly want to focus on.
The first of these is Heather Goodare.
She is now 81 years old but 21 years ago she saw there was a need to provide support to people in Crawley who were suffering from or had been suffering from cancer. She saw the need for such a group and so she set up The Olive Tree. She saw the need and did something about it.
One particular point Heather made was that if you have had cancer then you can look death in the face. Nothing else will frighten you as much. Heather had cancer. She looked death in the face and she said ‘No, I’m not ready to go yet’. Death would have to wait. Such a positive attitude and an inspiration to us all.
The second person is Charlie Doherty. He is a boy who recently took part in the Mini Milers event as part of the Brighton Marathon. As a result he raised a lot of money and on Saturday he joined in the Olive Tree birthday celebrations in order to hand over a cheque in excess of £667 for the charity. He did not have to take part in the event. He didn’t have to raise any money but he did both and so helped other people. Again an inspiration to us all.
Thirdly, is The Coasters. This is the house band of my charity, Outreach3Way. They are adults who have learning difficulties and yet at the opening of Crawley Festival they entertained the watching crowd who thoroughly enjoyed their performance as they played and sang while the Crawley Lions lion and a Panda danced in Queens Square with lots of children, These young men showed that it is possible to overcome difficulties and then give to others. A third example of inspiration to others.
My final person is a Ugandan named Robert. He is currently a resident at Brook House the Immigration Removal Centre at Gatwick Airport.
The Mayoress and I spent an hour in this man’s company and we learned something about his past, his current status and his possible future.
He spoke eloquently about how he feels he is not being dealt with fairly by the powers that be. He is facing possible deportation to his homeland country where he fears he will face persecution. That would also mean he would be leaving his family behind here in UK.
There was no bitterness as he spoke but concern that the system which operates could be improved. He had committed a crime for which he served time and yet, after his sentence has been completed, he is still locked up.
Of course I did not hear the other side of the story but let’s hope his case will soon be resolved.
The Mayor of Crawley, Cllr Bob Burgess