Care provider helps make dreams come true for Colchester man with terminal illness

Roger Pearce getting up close and personal with Brenda O'Sullivan's eagle owl Worzel. Image: Pagepix Ltd

Submitted by Rose Ling

A Colchester man living with a terminal heart condition has had his dreams turned into a reality thanks to the team at care provider, ECL in Colchester, in Essex.

Three years ago Roger Pearce, aged 78, was feeling very lonely following a series of deaths in his family, including his wife, mother and son. Since then he has attended ECL’s Marylands day service and enjoys the fun and companionship there, as well as the care and attention from the ECL team who provide special transport to and from Marylands and who arrange activities as well as a hot lunch.

Before he retired Roger worked as a taxi driver and then as a warehousing assistant manager, he also volunteered with St John Ambulance for 16 years and was a volunteer Fire Officer.

When Sherry Mills, manager at ECL Marylands, heard of Roger’s terminal diagnosis, she came up with the idea of doing a ‘bucket list’ of activities and asked Roger what he most wanted to do in the time he had left.

The bucket list was created by Roger and ECL’s team, led by key worker Tony Brooke, who has helped make it a reality, being creative and innovative to safely navigate the limitations of the pandemic.

Getting up close with nature was high on Roger’s bucket list and on March 22 Roger had a special visit from Brenda O’Sullivan. Brenda had to close her Twilight Encounters business due to the pandemic, but she agreed to do a special owl experience for Roger as a one off. She introduced Roger to tawny owl Phoenix, eagle owl Worzel and barn owl Twilight.

A visit to nearby Yarra Farm in Stanway Green has also been arranged.

Roger’s next wish was to conduct an orchestra and the Essex Symphony Orchestra has recorded a special one-off recital for Roger to conduct from the comfort of his home.

‘Lunch with Carol Kirkwood’, Roger’s heart-throb, was unfortunately not possible, but Carol sent a signed photo and personal letter and ECL arranged a three course candlelit meal with a life size cardboard cutout of Carol.

Roger’s favourite food including prawns and spotted dick and custard for pudding were on the menu. Roger said: “I’ve got Carol on my wall, it was a beautiful lunch”.

An Elvis tribute act was another request, and impersonator and tribute act ‘Delvis Elvis’ sent a collection of memorabilia including an Elvis book, DVDs and real life footage of Elvis, which was shared with Roger’s daughter Lisa to play to him whenever he wishes.

The final bucket list activity is to fly in a helicopter, which is planned for April 12 from Earls Colne Air Field.

Roger added: “The wonderful team at ECL came up with the idea for the bucket list and I thought it was such a good idea because I’m doing some of the things I would never have dreamed of doing.

“I’m overwhelmed with the kindness. Everyone at ECL has been incredible throughout the pandemic. If I get into difficulty or something is worrying me, I can talk it over with any of the staff and get it sorted, and now they are fulfilling my dreams for the things I always wanted to do. Conducting the orchestra will be my favourite.”

Sherry Mills, manager at Marylands, said: “Roger is very sociable and at the forefront of organising card games sessions. He’s been the life and soul here and when we found out about his terminal diagnosis we wanted to be part of his final days so suggested the bucket list.”

Key worker at ECL, Tony Brooke, who’s worked at Marylands since 2008 and who’s taken charge of fulfilling the bucket list dreams, said: “It’s been really, really humbling to help make this a reality for Roger. As a key worker my job is to support our customers and help them enjoy what they’re doing and it’s a privilege to do this for him.”