Silver Line’s first Community Champion Bob

Bob Lowe, 92, pictured here with his daughter Martine and Esther, is a supporter of The Silver Line. He contacted Esther after reading her newspaper article on loneliness and inspired her with his poem ‘Ode to Kath’ reprinted here.

He wrote, “My wife died 3 months ago after 65 years of marriage but more to the point 72 years since we first kissed…and she waited throughout the war for me and I for her… loneliness tell me about it.”

 

Ode to Kath

I am alone, now I know it’s true

There was a time when we were two

Those were the days when we would chat

Doing little jobs of this and that

We’d go to the shops and select our meals

But now I’m one I know how it feels

To try and cook or have meals on wheels

The rooms are empty there’s not a sound

Sometimes I’m lost and wander round

To look for jobs that I can do

To bring back the days when we were two

When darkness falls and curtains drawn

That’s when I feel most forlorn

But I must be honest and tell the truth

I’m not quite alone and here’s the proof

Because beside me in her chair

She quietly waits our time to share

Kath said to me some time ago

Darling when the time comes for us to go

Let’s mix our ashes and be together

So we can snuggle up for ever and ever.