Bert’s Story and Thank You to Greenway Centre

I was born in Southmead in 1951. I went to Greenway Boys School from 1962 – 1966. I went to work at British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) working on Concorde for many years. I met and married a Southmead girl after two failed marriages, but Grace Arpino was different. We were very happy for many years.

In 2005 Grace was diagnosed with breast cancer. After major surgery she came home with a positive attitude and lived life to the full. In 2016 she got the all-clear, but four years later she was told she had bone cancer, and it was affecting her organs. Again, Grace stayed positive and was my rock! She lost her fight for life on 19th January 2022, and that, my friends, was the date I thought my life was over. I would not leave the house unless it was dark, and did not want to talk to anyone.

Then, after two years, a flyer came through my letterbox. It was about the Walk and Talk group at Greenway. I phoned the number on it and went along the following week. I nearly bottled out but the walk leader, Ben, met me in reception.

That walk changed and saved my life. Thank you, Ben. I have been on every walk since and made many friends. Then, a friend of my wife, who knew that I was suffering, invited me to the Grief Café. Sher Fowler, the leader, is a magic person. I have since joined Southmead Men’s Space and Horizon Disability Friend Group. I also do Batch Cooking with Travelling Kitchen, Lung Health group, Coffee Morning, and even Betty’s Pom-pom making group. On top of all that I am now a Trustee for the Southmead Development Trust.

My life now means something, and Grace would be very proud of me. I would like to thank the staff, the members, and everyone who uses Greenway. It surely saved and changed my life. I now believe I make a difference to others too.

Please do not do what I did and go into a shell, there are people out there that can help you as well.

You can view all the activities happening at Greenway Centre HERE