A Friend In Need

Stephen was Fester’s little brother, born in the same year as me, and I’d known him almost as long as I’ve known Fester (Christmas 1979).    

He died of heart disease suddenly and unexpectedly in the house he was born in.  A neighbour worried that he hadn’t seen him for a couple of days yet there was a window open which was uncharacteristic if he was away, went to investigate and saw his body.

Stephen had neither an answering machine nor a mobile phone.

It was the Sunday of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Bank Holiday Weekend.

From Facebook Archives

3 June 2022 at 10.06

Ten years since that awful morning, it was bright and sunny just like today.

PC Andy Thorpe had the job of trying to contact us.

Of course you don't have 'next of kin' by people's names in your address book so PC Thorpe dialled 1471 on Stephen's landline and got Conway (who had probably been trying to phone him to organise meeting for a drink  over the bank holiday).  

Conway told him Stephen’s next-of-kin was his brother in Newcastle.  

Bazoukiboy 1993

So he phoned that number and got Bazoukiboy at the flat, who redirected him to my number.

By the time PC Thorpe and Fester were finishing their first conversation Bazoukiboy's car was pulling up outside our house.

He spent the rest of the day with us supporting both Fester and me.  It was a great help to me to know Fester could talk to him about things, and in a way, he could never talk to me.   

And over the following days and months he helped by taking Fester down to Sheffield for coroners and solicitors appointments, and bringing stuff from the family home back here.

You don't forget that sort of friendship.

Ms Elswitch  I remember that day and getting the call from Bagboy.  It was incredibly sad

Mrs Poet  Ben, what beautiful lucidity you have, even in the most distressing posts. Language is not everything but it helps: why we write and tell stories.  Much love.xxxxx

Bentonbag  Thankyou.  It comes from lots of practice: a mother who insisted I write home once a week, even with the Sunday phone-call; and then writing press releases and articles for submission to trade magazines.