Alf’s life story, as told to Jaime Gill

Alf has lived in a lot of places in his life

When he was 15 he lived with his family

He worked as a telegram boy and delivered telegrams

He enjoyed his job and was good at it

Once a woman asked him to stay for supper – so he did!

His Mum sometimes worried he stayed out too long!

One day Alf had an accident with a Canadian lorry

He was taken home to get better

After that he had bad nerves for a while

He doesn’t have nerves now!

Because of his nerves his Mum and Dad took him on a train to
Great Barr hospital in 1947

Alf was scared

Alf did not like Great Barr

He was the youngest person there

He was locked in – it was like a prison

He didn’t go outside very often

There wasn’t anything to do

He couldn’t go outside by himself

He had to sweep and clean a lot

The staff were not very nice

The staff pushed people around sometimes

Alf complained!

They said Alf was a voluntary patient

But Alf didn’t want to be there!

He only got to go home for his birthday

At Great Barr Alf made a friend called John

John was a patient and couldn’t walk

John helped Alf write letters

Alf can write his own letters now!

He lived at Great Barr for two years

Alf is glad he doesn’t live in place like that any more

Alf doesn’t think anyone should have to live in places like that

After that he went to Holly Meadows

Holly Meadows was a bit nicer

He could go outside but didn’t have a room of his own

Then after three years Alf moved to Ridgeway

Alf still didn’t have a room of his own

But he helped the nurses make the hospital beds

Alf was very good at the corners!

The nurses said he was very good!

After fourteen years Alf moved out of Ridgeway

He moved into a place of his own

Alf has now lived in his own house for fifteen years

He really likes his life now and having a place of his own

He likes the people who support him

He has a TV in his room, and a spare one!
 

He likes Coronation Street and The Bill

He has a DVD of The Bill he really likes

He has learnt to play the organ

The Salvation Army taught him “Count Your Blessings” when he was 44!

Alf goes out all the time now

He goes to a tea dance and a healing church

And he likes to cook for the people he lives with</