Box 2: Sustaining relationships – Anita: In memory of Michael Michael was part of the group for quite a few years. He would always arrive very early. It was one of the highlights of his week. He
was quite a shy person but he loved mixing with people at the same time. It took a lit le while for him to feel comfortable – when I fi rst met him, he wouldn’t say a great deal to me. He was with the group long before me – when I came, I remember talking to him, trying to make conversation; he wasn’t much into it, short and sharp, and eventually he got used to me and we did a lot of talking from there. Michael enjoyed the walk – he always looked forward to the café; that was his favourite bit. He wasn’t very keen on change so he
had his one café in Essex Road he liked the most. He needed support with the travelling to and from the Healthy Living Centre because he was afraid to go on buses. We reassured
him that it would be fi ne, that he would be OK and that we were here to support him. Eventually, he moved round to where I was living. He couldn’t wait to get on the bus. I used to go and meet him. He’d phone me
and say, “Are you ready; are you on your way?” He did really come out of himself. Every Tuesday aſt er the walk, I’d go off with Michael to Iceland and we’d go shopping. I’d help
him to his door, because we’d get off the bus at the same stop, then I’d go on my merry way. I can get quite lonely myself sometimes – I sometimes go to the park. I suggested going together and Michael was up for it. I said,
“I’ll let you know the day before and, if you change your mind on the day, fi ne”. Completely open, no pressure and there never is – same for the walk and talk, we never pressurise people, it’s always open to what they want to do. People can leave the walk at any point and we’ll direct them in the right way. He had his lit le ways – he was so funny with his cups of tea; wherever we went he couldn’t wait to get his cup of tea down him. He
was quite a character, one of the most lovely people I’ve ever met. T e whole group really miss him. We had a bond. When I walk past, I always look at his place and remember him. It took him a while to set le in. I had to keep on
saying to him, “You will set le in”. I’d tease him and say, “We’re up and coming; we’re the ‘Stokey Crew”. I’d oſt en call him in the evenings; we’d talk occasionally if I hadn’t seen him for a couple of days – I’d make a lit le call to him or he’d call me. We had that connection.
20 Context 164, August 2019
‘Going out towards Hackney by coach for the ayre’: Walking and talking together
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