I don’t know if its only rock and roll, but I like it

This is my last blog before Christmas arrives next week. As I write these words, the first couple of lines of the famous poem, ‘Twas the night before Christmas’ come to mind – ‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house / Not a creature stirred, not even a mouse’ – but somehow ‘Twas the blog before Christmas’ doesn’t have the same ring to it. The poem in question was first published on December 23^rd, 1823.  It was a long time ago for sure, but I enjoyed reading it again just now - (see if you can remember all the reindeer names). I couldn’t.

And talking about things from a long time ago, last week my social media timeline carried many variations of what were described as ‘rare photos’ of Keith Richards helping to build the Egyptian pyramids. He celebrated his 82^nd birthday last week, and his wrinkled and lined face apparently underpinned the notion that he’s been around forever. For sure, he has given us some great music and songs. Whilst it is never a good thing to be envious, I wish I could play the guitar half as well as he does. I can’t. I hope I’m still going, just as strong, as he is when I get to 82!

I was also slightly envious last week of my lovely wife, who has been on a winning streak. Jane won £100 in the Christmas raffle at our church, and before she could draw breath, she also won the £8 weekly church prize draw (for the second time in a row). On top of this, last week Jane won a fabulous £200 in the local hospice Christmas draw. Was I a winner too? I wasn’t. However, we celebrated her good fortune with a meal out (on Jane!) and a refreshing walk along our beach.

We were at church for this year’s Carol Service. It was a candlelit service, albeit the candles were battery operated tealights. They flickered realistically, and gave off more of a glow than any light. I had been asked to do a reading. In the gloom of the church, I wasn’t sure I would be able to see the words. I asked the vicar, Father John, if he had a copy of the reading with slightly larger print. He didn’t. I replied that if he knew how old my eyes were, he would turn the church lights on. He didn’t. However, in the end, with the aid of my flickering battery operated tealight candle, I was able to read the shepherds’ story.

After the service, Father John asked me when I planned to pack everything in and retire. I don’t. Yes, I have stopped doing many of the things I once did, but I continue to be the Chair of a large mental health NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester. Prestwich Hospital, as the present day Trust was originally known, was built in 1847, and opened with 350 patients in January 1851. It is not known whether Keith Richards helped with its construction though.  

It is my second time working here at the Trust. The first time was way back in 1984. I didn’t think I would return. But I did. I’ve been the Chair now for nearly two years. It has been a challenging, interesting, and a very rewarding two years. We were NHS England’s number one most worrying Trust for several years. This followed a Panorama undercover programme in 2022 that revealed abuse, poor-quality and totally unacceptable care. The Panorama programme made for very difficult viewing. So many people had been harmed over a number of years by those charged with keeping them safe and well.  

So, it felt a privilege to have the opportunity to return and be asked to be part of the team who would help the Trust on its recovery journey. Very soon after starting in January 2024, I was joined on this journey by our Chief Executive Karen Howell. Together, and with no help from Keith Richards, we have assembled an almost completely new Trust Board. As a Board, they have provided the leadership that has mobilised the energy and motivation of colleagues from across the whole of our Trust to make a difference as we take our recovery journey forward.  

They have done so at pace. We came out of special measures (the NHS England recovery support programme) on the 27^th November. If you had asked me whether I had confidence that my colleagues would collectively get us to this point, I did. Tom Peters, (In Search of Excellence fame) famously observed that most people don’t go to work to do a bad job. All the colleagues I’ve been fortunate to meet over the past two years, have reinforced Tom Peters’ words. I have met creative, innovative, energised folk and above all people who take proud in what they are doing.

Do they also make me feel proud of what they have achieved? Absolutely they do! A big thank you from me. Wishing Keith, and everyone, a restful and peaceful Christmas.