Beating Loneliness After Loss
Nothing could prepare Olympic high jump silver medallist Dorothy ShirleyEmerson for the loneliness that came with going home to an empty house after the death of her husband.
Dorothy had lived an incredible life, representing Team GB at the 1960 Rome Olympic Games, travelling the world and enjoying a long and happy marriage with her soulmate, Jack. Sadly, everything changed when he died aged 70 in 1999, after suffering renal failure.
Dorothy, 81, says: “After 28 years of being part of a winning team of two, I was suddenly all on my own. Even though we had a lot of separate interests I still felt very alone, which I wasn’t prepared for. I thought I’d adjust easily as I have loads of hobbies, but actually I would feel very lonely, even in social situations. For example, one of the hardest things was going out with other couples; I’d feel a bit of a spare part.”
She adds: “Lots of people know me as this bright and positive person, and it’s how I am determined to be, but there are moments when I still feel alone.”
Today, Dorothy uses her fighting spirit and can-do attitude to support others in her local Branch of one of the UK’s oldest and largest friendly societies, the Oddfellows.
She joined the friendship group after hearing an advert on the local radio and says: “Going to my first meeting was hard, I didn’t know what to expect, but everybody made me feel very welcome and my circle of friends has grown hugely since I joined.”
For more than two centuries, the Oddfellows has offered friendship and support and is one of the UK’s largest friendly societies, with 404,000 members across its 114 Branches. It’s a non-profit mutual (membership from £25 per year) run by members, for
members, to improve the quality of people’s lives.
Members are invited to regular online and face-to-face social events with their local Branch, such as coffee mornings, craft sessions, lunches out, guest talks and excursions. There are group holidays run by Oddfellows Travel in addition to benefits which include care and welfare advice and support, special member discounts and historical archive access.*
Dorothy adds, “I know what it’s like to feel lonely, and I know there are lots of people out there who are feeling
this way now. I want to use my life’s experiences to help others, so they don’t have to feel like I did.”
INFORMATION: To learn more about the Oddfellows (oddfellows. co.uk/firststeps) and to receive a free information pack and local events diary, call 0800 028 1810 or email enquiries@oddfellows.co.uk
*Terms and conditions apply to all member benefits and services. For details visit www.oddfellows.co.uk/ terms-conditions or call
0800 028 1810.