It was ‘the most brutal experience’ of my life

AFATHER-OF-TWO who struggled with the “most brutal experience” of his life wants others to get the life changing help he had. Police officer Pete O’Brien, of Woodley, was struggling to cope with the breakdown of his 14-year-old marriage when he discovered charity Divorce Recovery Workshop.

Their workshop course provided the support he so badly needed.

Pete, 46, is now helping spread the word about the DRW course starting on June 10 at Brookside Hall, Earley.

It’s for people whose relationship has broken down, whether they’re divorced or separated, and whenever the breakdown was. And it’s run by volunteers who have been on a DRW course.

Pete said: “My marriage breakdown came as a shock, I was quite hopeless. Searching on the internet I found DRW – the timing was spot on.

“I was looking for a coping strategy. I felt a failure and needed some hope. At DRW I found people who had been through something like I had – and come out the other side.

“I got so much out of the workshop, it was very positive. It was reassuring to discover it wasn’t just me going through this. It really struck me when I discovered that people’s partners were probably struggling as well.

That gave me understanding and perspective. Afterwards I felt I had hope that I’d get through this.”

The new course is on Friday evenings

June 10 and 17 and during the day on June 11 and 18.

Seamus of Reading, helping lead the course, said: “You will be warmly greeted with a cup of tea or coffee before every session. A light lunch is also provided. Please contact me on 07887 800521 with any queries.”

A modest charge covers costs.

Topics covered include: Is this really happening to me?

Coping with your ex-partner.

Assuming new responsibilities.

Letting go and forgiveness.

Family matters.

Thinking about new relationships.

For details: call Seamus on 07887 800521, email reading@drw.org.uk or go to Twitter @ ReadingDRW, or Facebook: facebook.com/ readingdrw. DRW’s website is at: www.drw.org.uk