Gillian Lambert

I teach adults with learning difficulties. When I was told that my colleague, Richard Parkinson, was a presenter for Radio Wishing Well, I wanted to involve my students.

Together we came up with the idea of Desert Island Discs. Working 1:1 with each student, we encouraged them to choose eight records which had a particular resonance in the lives of themselves or their families.

We took them individually to the studio. Richard worked the desk, whilst I interviewed the students about their choices. Each broadcast was recorded to CD, so the students had a permanent keepsake.

Following this exercise, I told Richard that I had previously worked with the BBC World Service at Bush House. I was invited to join the Wishing Well volunteers and love the two-hour broadcasting spot on Sundays. I intersperse the music with short stories and poems, plus anecdotes about my week.

However, like Ayesha in my story, (Page ___) I find the tech very challenging!

This is what I say

As well as being a volunteer at Trafford Radio Wishing Well, Gill also works with adults with learning disabilities.  

We are a team.
There is someone to help you.
Nothing to fear.
A hard task, but I believe you can do it.
Choose someone to work with you if you like.

Now it’s your turn.
You’re going to smash this.
The change is in front of you – a big mixed pile.
Perhaps spread it out?
Brilliant.

Now we can start!!
I’d like you to find me 89p.
That’s tricky, but we’ll all be with you.

Perhaps start with 50p – it’s big, silver and has lots of sides.
You’ve got it – great.

Now find 20p – it’s small, silver and has lots of sides.
Good – pop them to one side together so we don’t get muddled.

To find how much we’ve got all together – forget the zeros for a sec and count on an extra 2 after 5.
5,6,7 and put the zero back, making 70p.

Now another round silver coin – not the tiny one, we need that in a minute.
Yes, 10p, making 80p.

You’re nearly there!
Now the tiny silver coin.  Can anyone help by adding 5 to 80.
Smashing – 85p

There are only 2 more to find and that’s easier as they’re both the same!
Brown and round.
The bigger of the coins.
Two that match.

2p+2p equals?
Excellent 85p + 4p = 89p!

You’ve done it!
You’re a winner!

I Know

Volunteer at Trafford Radio Wishing Well
Families are not always perfect
Lost things can be found
Lost people can be found
There is something more than this world
There are hidden feelings under every interaction
Things are not always what they seem
Honesty and honour will get us through, but kindness and love will get us further
I know I know nothing
I don’t know
How to operate tech beyond the basics
How to make fluffy Yorkshires
How to build other people’s bridges when relationships fail
How to comfort the grieving
How to heal the planet
How to heal mankind
How to use a satnav without near death experiences
How to ride a bike
How to get through the breakers to calm water

Christmas at Radio Wishing Well

Radio Wishing Well presenters were going round wards with a trolley loaded with Christmas chocolates. We were singing carols, accompanied by a beardy folk group.  With all us old people were three young women doing their Duke of Edinburgh Awards.  We had to move from one floor to another. The lift was too small. Two of the girls had the very heavily laden trolley.

I said I would wait and take the lift when it returned.
I was with a young woman in a wheelchair.
Because we had all tried to get in together, her manoeuvring had become difficult and she was now wedged diagonally in the lift.  I am not the strongest person in the world.  I had to stick my bum out to prevent the lift doors closing. 

We struggled and pushed and pulled and eventually, the young woman shot out like a champagne cork.

Luckily we were both in fits of giggles – which can be dangerous after a certain age – but all was well and we awarded ourselves with the label “nicest person to have been stuck in a lift with.”

The Voice

(Inspired by The Last Quango in Halifax by Rob Mitchell and Elaine James)

Sam spoke to Alice all day, every day.  He was her reason for getting up in the morning.  She knew he didn’t live in the radio.  That would be silly, but if that’s how he chose to communicate with her, fair enough.  One day he’d come for her and until then, she’d wait.  As long as she could hear his voice.

“It’s a safeguarding issue!”  Four words from a concerned neighbour would change Alice’s life.

The people who came were kind.  They had little photos of themselves and clipboards.  They asked a lot of questions Alice couldn’t answer.  Boxes were ticked, files were opened, computers hummed.

Alice couldn’t see the looks on their faces once they got back to the car.  The smell!  The mess!  The filth!

Something had to be done.

They came for Alice.  She whimpered until they let her put the radio on her lap in the car.

It was a treat to be taken to such a fine house.  It was a holiday for Alice.  Friendly people helped her.  The food was good.  She was clean.

And Sam was on the bedside table, talking next to her.

The cleaner was new.  It wasn’t her fault. She had to plug in the hoover.

No more Sam.

Alice screamed for seven hours.

No-one realised what had happened and she was taken to hospital for tests.

Ayesha was the newest recruit to Radio Hope at the hospital.  She wanted to go to Drama School and thought broadcasting would be good experience.  But the switches and faders confused her.  All the other volunteers seemed to be much older, large men.

This was her second day and Ayesha was nervous.  She had been told to go to the wards.

“Set up Hospedia for those who can’t!  Get requests!”

Ayesha had never been onto a ward.  Was she going to see horrors?

Nurses were rushing about, too busy to tell her where to go.

Spotting a little side ward, Ayesha crept in with her Request Slips. There was one patient in a bed.  She was moaning softly.  Long grey hair.  Hardly more than bones under a blanket.  Ayesha didn’t know what to do.  No requests here then.  She picked up the bedside Hospedia set and pressed 1.  A man’s voice announced the next request.

There was silence from the bed.  The moaning had stopped.  The head moved a little, craning toward the sound.  Ayesha adjusted the volume.

Was that a smile? Yes, but a tear as well. Sam was back!  He had come for her!

Alice looked into Ayesha’s eyes, nodded once and fell back on the pillow.

Illustration: Georgia Appleby

Illustration: Georgia Appleby