I haven't been watching much of the News of late, because it is so very depressing and I tend to flick through the channels, or alternatively listen to my favourite 60's music.
Tonight however, I'm busy painting and the TV is on in the background and the Newscaster reported an old woman had been found dead in her flat in Woodbridge. Apparently, she's been dead for three years and all that remained was her skeleton sitting upright in a chair. Her television was still on. Now doesn't that say something about the non-caring society we are living in?
Sylvia, the poor old dear, three years and nobody missed her? Well, I suppose if her pension was paid directly into her bank, and her outgoings were covered by Direct Debit, then she would not have needed to go anywhere or see anyone. But as you so rightly say, it's a sad reflection of todays uncaring and selfish society. _________________ http://sewardchronicles.ning.com/
with no disrespect to this lady, SURELY somebody would have noticed the smell from her decomposing body? at the same time, where were her relatives and/or friends to not report her that bit sooner? this is a very tragic case and an enquiry should be held pronto to find out why it was allowed to happen.
I heard it on the early evening news, on the TV and they said that she was an aged person, then I heard it again on the 10.30pm news and this time they reported her as being just 40, but the rest of the story remains the same.
Yes Brian, I agree with you, surely someone must have smelt her decomposing body and surely there were letters sent to that address that required an answer to, what about the electoral register, I get one of those every year requesting that it be returned by a certain date. So why didn't someone from the Local Council investigate, I wonder.
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 8:45 am Post subject: gruesome find
not heard that story on the news, but if true its very tragic, it is possible though that if seh was elderly, she had outlived all of her closest relatives.
I heard it on the early evening news, on the TV and they said that she was an aged person, then I heard it again on the 10.30pm news and this time they reported her as being just 40, but the rest of the story remains the same.
Yes Brian, I agree with you, surely someone must have smelt her decomposing body and surely there were letters sent to that address that required an answer to, what about the electoral register, I get one of those every year requesting that it be returned by a certain date. So why didn't someone from the Local Council investigate, I wonder.
Did you hear it on the News too?
this was the first and only time i knew anything about it. i only buy a daily paper for my partner. myself, i only read the locals these days as i am just so fed-up with seeing overpaid sports people and pop stars in them, with very little news of other things going on in the world.
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 10:43 pm Post subject: WOMAN FOUND DEAD IN FLAT AFTER 3 YEARS
WOMAN FOUND DEAD IN FLAT AFTER THREE YEARS
Horror ... Joyce's lonely bedsit
FULL NEWS INDEX
By JEROME STARKEY
A WOMAN of 40 lay dead in her flat for almost THREE YEARS without anyone missing her.
Joyce Vincent’s skeleton was surrounded by unopened Christmas presents, an inquest heard.
The TV and heating were on, washing-up lay in a kitchen bowl and a mountain of post was stacked behind the front door.
Police believe Joyce probably died of natural causes in 2003.
But her body, which was lying on a sofa, was only discovered by bailiffs in January this year.
It was so badly decomposed that the only way she could be identified was by comparing dental records with a holiday photo of her smiling.
Food in the flat was marked with 2003 expiry dates.
Joyce’s family, including her sisters, told the inquest that the flat was a women’s refuge where she had lived after becoming a victim of domestic violence.
They said she had been engaged but it was not known if she had married.
The family admitted they had lost touch after she moved to the self-contained bedsit — one of 100 above a shopping centre in Wood Green, North London.
Det Insp Michael Ainslie, of the Met Police, told the family in court: “It’s very sad no one raised the alarm.”
A policeman called to the scene said he noticed a “strong smell” like a body coming from inside the flat.
After the inquest, neighbours also admitted noticing a “foul, rotten smell”. But nobody reported it.
Police told the hearing in Hornsey, North London, there were no suspicious circumstances.
Pathologist Dr Simon Poole said he was unable to establish a cause of death given the “largely skeletal” remains.
Deputy Coroner Andrew Walker recorded an open verdict.
He said: “I offer my deepest sympathies to members of the family.”
The flat was managed by the Metropolitan Housing Trust.
A spokeswoman said bailiffs were called when Joyce, originally from Hammersmith, West London, fell badly behind with her rent.
They had not noticed earlier because the rent was partly covered by housing benefit.
The spokeswoman said the trust was “not contacted by neighbours or family to raise any concerns”.
The building’s caretaker Kevin Mann was present when Joyce’s body was found. He said: “She looked like she’d just come back from shopping.
“I live below and never noticed the smell. People keep themselves to themselves in this block.”
Next-door neighbour Mickel Dobbs, who moved in two years ago, admitted he noticed a “foul” smell.
He added: “Every time I opened my window I would see strange little black insects crawling through.”
Neighbour Celia Cassidy said: “I am totally shocked. Nobody knew anything at all.”
Another neighbour, Ngosi Tobin, said: “It’s terrible. In other countries people know their neighbours but not here. It is easy to see how it would happen. Poor woman.”
That last sentance just about sums things up, Sylvia, a very tragic and sad thing to happen. I'm still astounded that it took so long before anyone missed her. Poor woman. _________________ http://sewardchronicles.ning.com/
Hi Admin, I copied it from the News Bulletin on the Website. It's tragic and I find it hard to believe that anyone could not have noticed her not being around for so long. The early evening news said she was an elderly person, but the later news reported her as being just 40.
I think it's a really sad indictment of the society we live in today, that this sort of thing goes on and nobody does anything about it ! Sure, there will be a lot of teeth gnashing and hand wringing, do gooders will be crawling out of the woodwork to lament the poor womans fate, but at the end of the day, everyone will go back into their little box's and the same thing will happen again, maybe not next week or the week after, but sure as eggs is eggs, it will happen again.
The community spirit of old is dead and gone, everyone just seems to be of " I'm all right Jack" mentallity these days.
I agree, it's really sad and tragic and nobody should have to spend their last days in this kind of situation, if we treated animals this way, there would be a national outcry about it. Things have got to change, I'm not sure how, I don't have all the answers, but they have to change and sooner rather than later !
Hi Ken, yes I strongly agree with you, things have got to change. Let me tell you what happened here in Grays, about three months ago.
I live in an end of terrace block and immediately opposite, are the detached houses and occupying one of those detached dwellings is an old couple, their family all grown up.
I used to see them out and about quite often and stop and have a chat and pass the time of day, just to be polite. Anyway Ken, I've seen the old gentleman out shopping a few times, but not his wife Joan and I started to wonder if she is all right. Well, some months passed by and I still hadn't seen Joan, so I decided to go across and knock on their door to see if she is ok. Eric (the old gentleman) came to the door and he was very surprised to see me. I asked if Joan is ok, as I haven't seen her for some time and I was worried that she may be ill or something. Eric seemed delighted that I'd taken the trouble to come over and enquire and I went into the living room and spoke to Joan.
Joan has painful legs and feet and cannot get around like she used to, so Eric has to do the shopping. I didn't stay too long, as I felt a bit awkward turning up un announced, but they sure seemed grateful that I cared enough to go across the road and ask after her. Naturally, I said that if I can be of any help, please let me know. I haven't been over there for a while and perhaps I will pop an Easter Card through and write on it, hope you're ok Joan and hope your legs aren't giving you too much pain. I'll write my phone number on the card, just in case they might want to call me.
I'm not a saint and I don't expect a big pat on the back either, it's just that I know that I am getting that much older and one day I too, could be stuck between my four walls, unable to get out through illness and without any food. I'd love someone to call on me and ask if I'm ok, but people don't. It's even too much trouble for my girls to come and see me, such is this selfish society that we now live in. Your absolutely right, 'I'M ALL RIGHT JACK' seems to be the way of the world.
Sandie & Louise keep in touch and Louise has frequently told me that if I ever need anything and unable to get out, to phone either Louise or Sandie and I know they wouldn't hesitate to try to help. That sort of friendship is 'priceless'.
I'm not a saint and I don't expect a big pat on the back either, it's just that I know that I am getting that much older and one day I too, could be stuck between my four walls, unable to get out through illness and without any food. I'd love someone to call on me and ask if I'm ok, but people don't. It's even too much trouble for my girls to come and see me, such is this selfish society that we now live in. Your absolutely right, 'I'M ALL RIGHT JACK' seems to be the way of the world.
Sandie & Louise keep in touch and Louise has frequently told me that if I ever need anything and unable to get out, to phone either Louise or Sandie and I know they wouldn't hesitate to try to help. That sort of friendship is 'priceless'.
the self same thing applies here with my partner and i. we care about neighbours and if we don't see or hear them, we make enquiries, but not for the pat on the back.
as for my three kids, one lives a mile from us and we haven't seen him since december, all because i wouldn't risk a bad angina attack and go fishing in the cold. one refuses to talk because his wife doesn't like me for some unknown reason and the other, beng my only daughter is not allowed to contact me, by order of her boyfriend. he rules her with an iron rod and will not listen to others.
my partners two lads, live 15 miles away and in regular contact and visit us. what a difference?
Hi Sylvia, I was really pleasedto read your post concerning the elderly couple who live opposite you. It sounds like you made their day, by turning up to enquire about the gentlemans wife. If only more folk would take the time and trouble to do this, the world would be all the better for it. Where I live, I happen to be one of the oldest residents of the street !, but my neighbours still chat on a regeular basis and everybody knows how everyone else is without it being too nosey. There is one lady opposite me,Val, who is a couple of years older than me but is probably more spritely than me , she is an author and keeps herself pretty much to herself, but we do chat occasionally and I volunteer my services to hump compost bags etc. from her car for her after she's been to the garden centre. It was only throughtalking to neighbours last year that I doscoverd why peo[le from the other end of our cul d sac never speak to me at all, apparently, the bunch at the other end of the street are all convinced I'm gay because I live alone and they have never seen any females visit me ! They couldn't understand why my close neighbours were happy for me to chat to their younger kids and do the odd bit of babysitting for them, I think they had me pegged as child molester as well !
Still, I suppose I should be grateful that they noticed me at all, I do try to keep a low profile and not attract any attention to myself.
Hi Ken, just like you, I don't get in too deep with my neighbours either and keep myself, to myself. I don't know what my neighbours think of me, since I live all by myself too, but one things for sure, I'm definitely not the other way. I'm too much of a lady to be doing things like that and I much prefer Male company. However, each to his/her own. If people choose to be gay and many do, then it doesn't bother me, just as long as they don't ply their affections in my direction, I don't care what they do with their lives.
How sad that your neighbours think this of you. Perhaps you should invite your friend round (the police woman) for a cup of tea, preferably when she's not in uniform, that will make your neighbours think differently of you.
I don't know you personally Ken, but judging by the content of the things you write on this forum, I think you are a very nice man indeed and very polite too!
last year my elderly father went into hospital and it should have been for 2 days, but ended up being almost 2 weeks as we very nearly lost him. when he came home, he was at home 3 days before his neighbours knew and where he lives there are 20+ bungalows in close proximity. not ONE noticed he wasn't there until they were told, and then they didn't know he was home until my youngest son and i went to visit him and make sure he was okay. i live 25 miles from him and so keep in regular touch.
I don't bother with most of my neighbours either. I am friendly with an elderly chap who lives downstairs, he is in his eighties, and his wife, although still alive, is in a care home. He was looking after her himself until a year ago, but she became too ill, had a fall in the bathroom, and broke her hip. Although they gave her a hip replacement, she has not walked since, and my neighbour could no longer cope. He suffers from chronic breathing problems, and it all became too much for him. Now, his wife's happily settled in her home, but he is the one who is suffering, as he really misses her.
(They have been married for over sixty years). Now he's absolutly lost without her. Sure, he can cook and his daughter comes and visits him a few times a week, but his life is now spent paying out for taxi's to visit his wife three or four times a week. Very sad, that they have to be separated after so long together. _________________ http://sewardchronicles.ning.com/
I don't bother with most of my neighbours either. I am friendly with an elderly chap who lives downstairs, he is in his eighties, and his wife, although still alive, is in a care home. He was looking after her himself until a year ago, but she became too ill, had a fall in the bathroom, and broke her hip. Although they gave her a hip replacement, she has not walked since, and my neighbour could no longer cope. He suffers from chronic breathing problems, and it all became too much for him. Now, his wife's happily settled in her home, but he is the one who is suffering, as he really misses her.
(They have been married for over sixty years). Now he's absolutly lost without her. Sure, he can cook and his daughter comes and visits him a few times a week, but his life is now spent paying out for taxi's to visit his wife three or four times a week. Very sad, that they have to be separated after so long together.
Could the local Social Services or a local volunteer group help him get to visit his wife?
[quote="Sylvia"]....... I don't know what my neighbours think of me, since I live all by myself too, but one things for sure, I'm definitely not the other way. I'm too much of a lady to be doing things like that and I much prefer Male company. However, each to his/her own. If people choose to be gay and many do, then it doesn't bother me, just as long as they don't ply their affections in my direction, I don't care what they do with their lives..........
Sylvia[/quote]
I'm not really bothered what they think of me Sylvia and just for the record, I'm not that way inclined either and like you, I have absolutely no objections to anyones orientation, it would be a boring old world if we were all the same. at the end of the day, all that matters is that you are happy with your life and the way you live it. At least the neighbours know who I am and they do talk about me, which in this day and age is something I suppose ! I have tried marriage in the past but it didn't work out, it took me 13 years to find that out and I have no burning wish to repeat the experience again thank you. I am more than happy on my own, I cope moderately well and self analysis seems to point to me being a fairly well balanced sort of person ( I have a chip on each shoulder )
Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 8:54 am Post subject: gruesome find
the thing that amazes me, is that according to all the reports i have read on the topic, the t.v and heating were still on, what about the electricity bill that must have been run up over 3 years, why did nobody pick up on that????
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That last sentance just about sums things up, Sylvia, a very tragic and sad thing to happen. I'm still astounded that it took so long before anyone missed her. Poor woman.
, she is an author and keeps herself pretty much to herself, but we do chat occasionally and I volunteer my services to hump compost bags etc. from her car for her after she's been to the garden centre. It was only throughtalking to neighbours last year that I doscoverd why peo[le from the other end of our cul d sac never speak to me at all, apparently, the bunch at the other end of the street are all convinced I'm gay because I live alone and they have never seen any females visit me ! They couldn't understand why my close neighbours were happy for me to chat to their younger kids and do the odd bit of babysitting for them, I think they had me pegged as child molester as well !
However, each to his/her own. If people choose to be gay and many do, then it doesn't bother me, just as long as they don't ply their affections in my direction, I don't care what they do with their lives.
I don't bother with most of my neighbours either. I am friendly with an elderly chap who lives downstairs, he is in his eighties, and his wife, although still alive, is in a care home. He was looking after her himself until a year ago, but she became too ill, had a fall in the bathroom, and broke her hip. Although they gave her a hip replacement, she has not walked since, and my neighbour could no longer cope. He suffers from chronic breathing problems, and it all became too much for him. Now, his wife's happily settled in her home, but he is the one who is suffering, as he really misses her.
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