Martha’s story: why EACH matters to me

Martha's story why EACH matters to me - Just Recruitment

Just Recruitment director Peter Foy has a very personal reason for supporting EACH. He shares it here

By Peter Foy

I have already written elsewhere on these pages about why Just Recruitment is committed to supporting East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices.

This article is different. This is my personal account of why I support this charity and why I have used my influence to persuade colleagues at Just Recruitment to do the same.

    This is my personal account of why I support this charity and why I have used my influence to persuade colleagues at Just Recruitment to do the same.  

For those of you who don’t know me, I am Peter Foy. A director of Just Recruitment Group Ltd, an ordained minister in the Church of England and a regular guy. It’s in that last category that I write this piece.

The story begins with Martha.

I knew Martha from the moment I became aware of people. She is in my earliest memories. She held me when I cried. She wiped my eyes, my nose and other orifices as necessary. She loved me.

Martha was a fixture in my life as long as I was aware that I had a life.

As I grew so my relationship with Martha grew. By the time I went to university, about which she was pleased as punch, we were friends. Unequal friends in many ways but friends.

In my second year at uni I came home for a long weekend. Martha and her husband, Martin, were at my family home. I had been out with friends and had a drink or two. When I arrived home Martha was sitting up. Waiting, caring.

She made me a coffee and a toasted sandwich. I remember it clearly: when I think of it, I can still taste the cheese! That’s when she told me the story.

Towards the end of the Second World War, Martha and Martin married and had a baby daughter, Christine. The child fell ill and doctors were called, but this was before the NHS so medical care cost money.

Christine died.

She died at home.

In her mother’s arms.

Mother and baby alone.

Martha told me of the moment she realised her daughter was dead.

All she could do was hold her. To sit and nurse her.

Afternoon turned to evening. Evening to night.

She sat, alone, and nursed her dead daughter.

A young woman. An infant. The dark.

“All I could do was hold her.”

All I could do was weep.

When Martin returned home, he found it in complete darkness. A wife nursing a corpse.

Long after Martha told me her story Martin told me his version. The one abiding memory was of his wife holding a china doll and weeping.

“Weeping torrents.”

As I spoke to Martha, she said a strange thing.

“After the death of your child, there is no other death.”

She loved poetry and I wondered if she had Dylan Thomas in mind:

“After the first death, there is no other”.

    I am determined that women like Martha and men like Martin do not have to weep in the darkness but have the support of a loving community,...  

So, let’s have a scene change. Camera zoom to my recent tour of The Treehouse, EACH’s Ipswich hospice. The guide takes us through the residential wing, explains how the four rooms can be converted into a contiguous apartment, providing accommodation for a family: parents, siblings and patient.

We come to the final room. Exactly the same as the others; bed, chairs and so on. But there is one important difference. This is the room for end of life care. When a child dies this room can be refrigerated to become a morgue.

It allows the child to stay in situ. To relieve the pain of the parents and family. To help them cope, giving them a chance to say goodbye.

Reading those last two paragraphs might upset you. Well, it is upsetting: every parent’s worst nightmare.

“After the first death, there is no other.”

All I can say is that I wish that there had been a hospice that upset sensibilities for Martha.

A few years ago, I had the enormous privilege of presiding at Martha’s funeral. We said farewell to an amazing woman. I am determined that women like Martha and men like Martin do not have to weep in the darkness but have the support of a loving community, helping them cope with the most painful moment of all.

And that is why I support EACH.

Published: 17 October 2019

© 2019 Just Recruitment Group Ltd

Just Recruitment is sponsoring EACH’s “Happy Christmas Ipswich” comedy evening, hosted by Griff Rhys Jones. To support the event or donate to EACH, please click here.

If you enjoyed this article, you may like: Where the light shines in

You may also enjoy: Everything you need to know about “Happy Christmas Ipswich”. An evening with Griff Rhys Jones & Friends in aid of EACH

 

Jobs currently available

New job
Customer Service Executive
Sector: Customer Service
Salary: Competitive
Location: Sudbury
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913711
About the role

Just Recruitment is working with a great company in Sudbury that offers a stable team and a positive working environment. They are seeking a Customer Services Executive to join their long-standing team.

As the Customer Service Executive, you will deal directly with customers by phone or email, providing stock updates, pricing and delivery information.

You will provide excellent customer service and promote this throughout the organisation.

The goal is to keep the department running in an efficient and profitable manner, to increase customer satisfaction, loyalty and retention and to meet their expectations.

To be considered for this role, you must have excellent Excel skills, including VLOOKUP's and Pivot Tables.

Key responsibilities include:

  • Improving customer service experience, creating engaged customers and facilitating organic growth
  • Taking ownership of customers' issues and following problems through to resolution
  • Setting a clear mission and deploying strategies focused towards that mission
  • Developing service procedures, policies and standards
  • Keeping accurate records and documenting customer service actions and discussions
  • Analysing statistics and compiling accurate reports
  • Reviewing order input, both for accuracy and to understand the customer's business and requirements
  • Managing office holidays and ensuring cover is in place

Key role requirements include:

  • Proven working experience as a Customer Service Executive or Key Account Handler
  • Experience in providing customer service support
  • Excellent knowledge of management methods and techniques
  • Ability to think strategically and to lead
  • Strong client-facing and communication skills
  • Advanced troubleshooting and multi-tasking skills
  • Customer service orientation
  • Strong Excel skills are required

Working hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a growing business with the potential for development and career progression within the role.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
Field Service Technician – Twickenham / Kingston Upon Thames
Sector: Engineering and Manufacturing
Salary: Discussed on application
Location: Twickenham, Kingston Upon Thames
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913709
About the role

Due to continued growth, a world-leading provider of vehicle washing technology is recruiting a Field Service Technician to service a customer base in the Twickenham / Kingston Upon Thames area.

The role involves servicing and installing car and commercial valet equipment. You will be involved in all aspects of planned maintenance, breakdown repairs, equipment servicing, and general repairs. Responsibilities also include maintaining van stock levels and completing job sheets.

Role requirements include:

  • Having an Electrical or Mechanical engineering qualification
  • Be willing to travel and stay out overnight as and when required
  • Be willing to take on additional training and relevant courses, including evening courses that the company may pay for
  • Working on your own initiative or part of a team, and have problem-solving skills
  • Have a valid, clean UK driving licence
  • Good people skills, presentable and able to liaise directly with customers
  • Being punctual and able to keep accurate and timely documentation
  • IT literate with Microsoft Office and Outlook experience
  • You will be required to work within Health & Safety guidelines as set by the company

Benefits on offer include:

  • Company vehicle
  • Mobile phone
  • Pension scheme
  • Death in service benefit
  • Uniform and tools provided#

Hours: Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week plus 1 in 3 weekend cover.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
Field Service Technician – Chelmsford / Ilford
Sector: Engineering and Manufacturing
Salary: Discussed on application
Location: Chelmsford, Ilford
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913708
About the role

Due to continued growth, a world-leading provider of vehicle washing technology is recruiting a Field Service Technician to service a customer base in the Chelmsford / Ilford area.

The role involves servicing and installing car and commercial valet equipment. You will be involved in all aspects of planned maintenance, breakdown repairs, equipment servicing, and general repairs. Responsibilities also include maintaining van stock levels and completing job sheets.

Role requirements include:

  • Having an Electrical or Mechanical engineering qualification
  • Be willing to travel and stay out overnight as and when required
  • Be willing to take on additional training and relevant courses, including evening courses that the company may pay for
  • Working on your own initiative or part of a team, and have problem-solving skills
  • Have a valid, clean UK driving licence
  • Good people skills, presentable and able to liaise directly with customers
  • Being punctual and able to keep accurate and timely documentation
  • IT literate with Microsoft Office and Outlook experience
  • You will be required to work within Health & Safety guidelines as set by the company

Benefits on offer include:

  • Company vehicle
  • Mobile phone
  • Pension scheme
  • Death in service benefit
  • Uniform and tools provided#

Hours: Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week plus 1 in 3 weekend cover.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
Field Service Technician – Bromley / Redhill
Sector: Engineering and Manufacturing
Salary: Discussed on application
Location: Bromley, Redhill
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913710
About the role

Due to continued growth, a world-leading provider of vehicle washing technology is recruiting a Field Service Technician to service a customer base in the Bromley/Redhill area.

The role involves servicing and installing car and commercial valet equipment. You will be involved in all aspects of planned maintenance, breakdown repairs, equipment servicing, and general repairs. Responsibilities also include maintaining van stock levels and completing job sheets.

Role requirements include:

  • Having an Electrical or Mechanical engineering qualification
  • Be willing to travel and stay out overnight as and when required
  • Be willing to take on additional training and relevant courses, including evening courses that the company may pay for
  • Working on your own initiative or part of a team, and have problem-solving skills
  • Have a valid, clean UK driving licence
  • Good people skills, presentable and able to liaise directly with customers
  • Being punctual and able to keep accurate and timely documentation
  • IT literate with Microsoft Office and Outlook experience
  • You will be required to work within Health & Safety guidelines as set by the company

Benefits on offer include:

  • Company vehicle
  • Mobile phone
  • Pension scheme
  • Death in service benefit
  • Uniform and tools provided#

Hours: Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week plus 1 in 3 weekend cover.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
Flexi/Bendi Driver
Sector: Transport, Logistics and Shipping
Salary: £12.75 per hour
Location: Witham
Role: Full Time
Contract: Temporary
Job ref: 16797466
About the role

Just Temps is seeking Flexi/Bendi Drivers for a company based in Witham.

This is an immediate start, temp-to-perm opportunity role!

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.

About the role:

This is a varied role where you will support the Team, Coordinators, and Warehouse Manager in the daily operations of the warehouse, helping to ensure compliance with Health & Safety regulations while maintaining the highest standards of customer service and operational efficiency.

Duties will include:

  • Loading and unloading goods from deliveries
  • Checking for damaged or missing items
  • Accepting incoming goods and comparing them with the shipping document (material number, description, quantity)
  • Storing goods in warehouses using manual processes or MHE
  • Making sure any loads are safe and secure
  • Tidying and stacking empty pallets
  • Picking and packing orders for dispatch
  • Moving stock around either by hand, using lifting equipment or a forklift truck
  • Loading goods for dispatch
  • Inputting data regarding stock and inventory into a computerised system
  • Carrying out stock counts as and when required
  • Managing, completing, and keeping paperwork to the required standards
  • Operating safely and in full compliance with all health, safety, and environmental regulations to ensure your own safety and the safety of others
  • Keeping areas of work clean and tidy to ensure safety and operational efficiency
  • Making recommendations to aid efficiency and add value
  • Other general warehouse duties as required

Role requirements:

  • Ideally, you will have an accredited licence, although the company will consider in-house certificates
  • Demonstrates a hands-on commitment to getting the job done whilst adhering to deadlines

 

Just Temps acts as an Employment Business for the supply of Temporary Staff.
The salary advertised is the bracket available for this position. 
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more