Connie's story
After the death of her second husband, Connie found she didn’t see anyone and it became clear that she couldn’t live on her own. Her son became one of the only people that she saw and although he lived in Hastings, he tried to visit as often as he could. Her son, Martin, suggested she moved in with him and she agreed.
"Loneliness is a big issue for older people, before moving to Hastings I was totally on my own. I lived in Gosport, it was a big detached bungalow right down the end of the lane, and I felt quite isolated down there. My son suggested I move in with him and I said it’s better than living in this big bungalow on my own.
"When I first came to Hastings I was lonely, my son used to say cheerio at half past seven in the morning and didn’t come home till six at night, it’s a big detached house and I haven’t spoken to a neighbour since I’ve been here and I’ve been here two years. They’re all big detached houses and they’re all busy, it’s not the sort of place where you talk to neighbours and things like that, so I was left there on my own."
Connie, 83
Connie saw the
WRVS Isabel Blackman Centre advertised in the local paper, made a phone call and has been going every week since.
"I come here Tuesdays and Thursdays. Mondays and Wednesdays I’m on my own but I’m busy and on Friday the hairdresser comes. That’s enough for me.
"I love to come to the centre; it’s made a big difference to my life. I’m fortunate to have my son but it’s important to me to come here, it’s the only time I see people my own age, they’re friends to me.
"If you’re lonely I would say join a club, I didn’t know a soul, imagine if I didn’t have this to come to twice a week I’d be very lonely. You’ve got to find things yourself; no-one does it for you."
Connie, 83
Back to list