NEWS
‘Fed really looked out for me after my wife died suddenly’
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n the latest in our series ‘How the Fed helped me’ we speak to Sergeant Jonny Wicks, whose wife died in 2019 leaving him to cope with the pressures of being a single parent to three children. Jonny Wicks of Cambridgeshire Police was devastated
when his wife Rachel suffered a brain haemorrhage in 2019. Tragically, the 34-year-old never recovered. The couple had been married for 12 years and had three sons aged seven, four and two. “One day she was fine and chatting and then three
days later she was gone,” said Jonny. “You have a thousand questions running through your head as to what life is going to be like and how am I going to cope, particularly with three young children? It’s crushing.” Cambridgeshire Police Federation reached out to Jonny,
37, to provide practical support such as processing a claim for life insurance. They also arranged a stay for the family at a holiday home in Norfolk. Jonny explained: “Before, I had no idea about the
number of things you have to do admin-wise. That can get overwhelming and cause more stress. The fact my local Fed rep was in contact and told me what he was going to do and just got on with it really took the pressure off. “What was brilliant was that at the point I needed the
Federation they were there. I didn’t have to instigate it – and they provided all the support I needed. They were looking out for me and that was really great.” He added: “The grief is always there and still catches me
off guard. The thing I find hardest, other than adapting to life as a single dad, is Rachel not seeing how the boys are growing up and the milestones that accompany that. Our youngest was four months when his mum died. He’s now two and chatting and is a proper little boy. I know she would love him to bits.” Jonny now works three days a week and is thinking of upping his hours. The Force has also been very supportive.
See Jonny’s blog Dadventures at -
https://mydadventures.co.uk/
26 I POLICE I JUNE 2021
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