JANET AND DAVID – Thanks a Million!

It was nearly 30 years ago that Janet and David Goldsworthy joined the Silver Star family after an emergency transfer from a neighbouring hospital. I met them then for the very first time. This was their second child after the earlier successful delivery of Rachel.

I had no idea that this began a story, which would continue for the next nearly 30 years until now.

In those first, fraught days, everything possible was done for Emma, who however was too small when she was born, to be able to survive.

A younger Jennie weighs in

There followed many months even years for Janet and David to come to terms with their loss and to try again. The decision came with pain trepidation and uncertainty. But it was the right one. Now Janet and David have two beautiful grown-up daughters, Rachel and Jennie. Behind each, is a helter-skelter story of the sort which will be familiar to some of you. A story of perseverance, faith, hope in an uncertain future, and of anxiety and bravery. Now they know and we can know that it has been a good story.

But then, what are our lives other than a series of stories? This, and others as complicated and difficult, are so important and moving for all of us in Silver Star

But this story is bigger. Janet and David have, since then, worked long, hard and caringly to contribute to our Silver Star society, antedating even Maggie our hard-working and long serving secretary/organiser.

Over the years the society has changed. Some changes have kept us up to date and most important in touch with previous and new Silver Star families. Other changes have been enforced by institutional rules or changes in the way maternity care is delivered, which have made it perhaps less easy to celebrate our achievements. But the Goldsworthys have helped to sustain the Silver Star story and keep it alive for new, younger families, who in their own ways have needed the support and skills that we give.

So we are still here and still hearing your stories, sharing your growing families and benefiting from your support; for which Janet has worked long and hard, with Maggie.

An older Jennie and I say Hallo

Until now you may not have known that our all-important newsletter, which has continued to come through, thick and thin, with more or less news, continually, is largely owing to the writing and preparation of Janet. Now, after all these years, she is stepping down. This is the last newsletter that will come from her keyboard, and elegant writing.

Each issue has been a beacon to her continuing commitment to what Silver Star care means. Janet has many precious skills. Her heart is big. Her empathy is generous and, in addition, she shares what she gives in all that she writes.

Current readers will find it hard to believe some of our older stories: how we used to raise our own huge marquees on the front lawn for our annual fetes, which no longer take place; how the RAF Red Devils parachuted in on us; how we organised pony rides and model railway rides; not to mention the city’s fire engines for inspection, while the Kennington Silver Band played, as if there were no tomorrow

Behind Janet, David has always had a state-of-the-art camera to document our many and various ambitious activities; and a fund of IT expertise. David was an early Chairman of our committee, and set up our very first PC upon which our membership was organised. Each big event involved a massive mail out, which involved stuffing raffle tickets into hundreds of envelopes and sticking on hundreds of stamps, when the hospital post room was not able (/willing) to help. David reminds me of hard and long hours that it sometimes took