5 THINGS I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT
Humanitarian TERRY WAITE, 77, was taken hostage in Lebanon in 1987 and kept in captivity for almost five years. He and his wife Frances have four children and they divide their time between London and Suffolk
1 COMPANIONSHIP For most of my time as a hostage I was kept in solitary confinement and it was incredibly lonely. Ever since, I have put a very high value on camaraderie and being able to play an active role in the community.
For me companionship is about being around people who share common goals and feeling as if I am a part of life.
Having said that I still think there is a place for solitude and I do enjoy time on my own. I think it enables me to be better company in the presence of others. 2 A RADIO For the last few months of my captivity I was allowed a small radio and it was an absolute lifeline. I remember hearing Elgar’s The Dream Of Gerontius playing on the World Service. It was such a wonderfully life-affirming moment as it evoked a strong sense of England and the indomitable strength I have always associated with my homeland. I have never been very keen on television but I do love radio although I think it’s a shame there are so many adverts as it really rather ruins the listening experience. My favourite radio programmes of all are Rob Cowan’s Essential Classics on Radio 3 and Radio 4’s The Archers, which I have become completely addicted to lately.
3 FAMILY PHOTOS I really treasure pictures of my family and at home we have a huge canvas of our three daughters and our son while on holiday as children in Cley Next The Sea on the Norfolk coast.
They all look so happy and every time I look at it, I remind myself of how lucky I have been.
4 BOOKS I love words and apart from the obvious heartache of being separated from my family and friends while I was in captivity, one of the hardest things for me was not being able to read or write. But I managed to while away the time by writing my first book Taken On Trust in my head.
Now I read voraciously and as well as prose I love poetry and I have recently written my first collection.
5 RUSSIAN CROSS I have been a committed Anglican and Quaker for most of my life but I like to practise my faith in a number of ways.
Shortly after my release in 1991 I attended a Russian Orthodox service. At the end of the particularly long service the worshippers gathered around the bishop for a homily and he told them I had recently been released from captivity and that they should sing for me to celebrate my safe return.
The song was in Russian so I didn’t understand it but the sound and the sentiment of the music was beautiful.
Afterwards I was presented with a traditional Orthodox cross, which I have treasured ever since. It always reminds me of that wonderful moment and the fact that life is a constant mystery and full of surprises.
Terry Waite is president of Emmaus, a charity offering a home and work to people who have experienced homelessness and social exclusion. It supports 750 people across the UK and is working to increase this to 1,000. Visit emmaus.org.uk