Compassion, Winter 2020

Winter 2020 - Compassion | www.tcf.org.uk 6 Dear Compassionate Friends, I am sure like me, many of you are struggling to take in the fact that we are almost at the end of 2020. I was elected Chair of Trustees in January this year. What a different world we all inhabited at the beginning of 2020. Stating the obvious, the year has been occupied by the Covid-19 pandemic, which has gone on for longer than many of us ever contemplated. And we now find ourselves with 2020 almost behind us. Indeed, as I write these ‘thoughts’ my calendar reminds me that this very weekend was the weekend when we were supposed to be having our annual national gathering. It has made me think back to the beginning of November 2019, when so many of us met in Horwood House, Northampton, to commemorate and celebrate together the 50th anniversary of The Compassionate Friends. I am sure that those of you who were there, like me, have very fond and happy memories of that weekend. It really was very special in so many ways and was such a fitting way for us to mark the occasion of the 50th anniversary. It is amazing to remember that it was attended by over 250 bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents. We spent the two days together, laughing and crying and remembering our loved ones. There have been many times during the course of this year when I have looked back with relief that our charity was founded by the Rev. Simon Stevens in 1969 and not in 1970. What a difference a year would have made to our being able to celebrate out half-centenary. You may recall that in a couple of my ‘Thoughts from the Chair’ over the course of the year, I have made comparisons in respect of our grief and the pandemic; in particular the so called ‘new normal’ that we have all had to get used to. We have had our own experience of living in a very different world to that which existed before. And that continues as we go forward towards the end of 2020 and into 2021. It is impossible to predict where we will be this time next year, but I do hope that in terms of the pandemic we will be in a better place. So what about our wonderful charity, how has it done this year? The short answer is that it has done incredibly well. I am particularly proud of our staff led by our wonderful CEO, Carolyn Brice, who have kept the charity going at full steam and all from their own kitchens, living rooms or bedrooms in the attic. Carolyn has managed to ensure the Charity continues to be a beacon of light to so many bereaved parents and siblings. As always Carolyn, you have my thanks. In addition, the office staff of Buz de Villiers, Charite Nkusi and Karen Ivy have been there throughout to ensure that the Thoughts from the Chair Andrew Miller with his son Fabian