'I don't want to live in a society where work is more important than grief'
I am writing this because a report from the National Council for Palliative Care says that the Government should look into the ‘feasibility’ of statutory leave from work after a loved one dies.
As I sit here writing this I have the obituary section of The Telegraphsitting on my desk. The picture at the top of the page is of my father. This makes me immensely proud but it also means that the reality of it begins to fall into focus and it puts me in a horribly appropriate position to write this piece.
My father died on December 17, just a few weeks ago. I can’t say that it was entirely unexpected as he was approaching his 93rd birthday. He had gone into a care home just four weeks earlier because my mother had slipped a disc trying to lift him when he had a fall. The health professionals said that a care home was the only option.
My father continued to get weaker. But when I visited him on the day he died he was in great form, sitting in his chair and looking smart. We had a wonderful hour or so together. We talked about Christmas (his presents from me are still unwrapped. Clare, my partner, has kindly put them away in a safe place.)
We talked about the local history society and laughed at the fact that he had missed the talk on the History of the Cast Iron English Fire Grate. We laughed and teased each other as we always did.
I am writing this because a report from the National Council for Palliative Care says that the Government should look into the ‘feasibility’ of statutory leave from work after a loved one dies.
As I sit here writing this I have the obituary section of The Telegraphsitting on my desk. The picture at the top of the page is of my father. This makes me immensely proud but it also means that the reality of it begins to fall into focus and it puts me in a horribly appropriate position to write this piece.
My father died on December 17, just a few weeks ago. I can’t say that it was entirely unexpected as he was approaching his 93rd birthday. He had gone into a care home just four weeks earlier because my mother had slipped a disc trying to lift him when he had a fall. The health professionals said that a care home was the only option.
My father continued to get weaker. But when I visited him on the day he died he was in great form, sitting in his chair and looking smart. We had a wonderful hour or so together. We talked about Christmas (his presents from me are still unwrapped. Clare, my partner, has kindly put them away in a safe place.)
We talked about the local history society and laughed at the fact that he had missed the talk on the History of the Cast Iron English Fire Grate. We laughed and teased each other as we always did.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-health/10561868/I-dont-want-to-live-in-a-society-where-work-is-more-important-than-grief.html
Best known as a Radio 4 announcer and newsreader, Alice originally trained and worked as an actress. Her degree was in politics and she was a magistrate throughout her thirties. She entered into a Civil Partnership With Clare Balding in 2006. They live in London with their dog Archie and elderly cat Itty. Alice left the BBC in December 2012. She writes for The Telegraph's Wonder Women section on a range of issues including: media, culture, gay rights and the law.