More than half a century ago, a young Worthing man wandered the street near his home for hours, trying to understand why his apparently untroubled younger brother had taken his own life.
Why did no-one know he was so deeply troubled; why hadn’t he told anyone about it or talked to anyone? Once the shock settled, older brother Mike Shaw determined that he would offer anyone in distress the chance to talk to someone and became a listening volunteer for the Samaritans.
Fifty years on, Mike, (77) from Rustington, has just celebrated his fifth decade as a listener, making him the longest serving volunteer in the Worthing branch and one of the longest in the country. And he is still going strong, undertaking at least one listening duty a week and says he has seen the organisation undergo many changes.
“Years ago, we were very much a local service, with a local phone number and our premises in the early days were above a Chinese food takeaway. The branch was open 24/7 and this sometimes meant Deputy Directors filling gaps on the duty rota themselves if they couldn’t reach anyone to cover.
“I’ve had many roles – Deputy Director, leader, Chair, listening volunteer; I’ve led training and prison teams. I’m now happy as a leader again, giving occasional help with training and most important, listening on the phone.
“Nowadays, it is a nationwide role with a single phone number for the whole UK and we are online for calls which makes a much more flexible approach.”
During such a long service, there have been some very significant memories, Mike said. “I met the Duchess of Kent when we opened our second building and Princess Alexandra when she visited on the branch’s 50th anniversary.
“I was also well known for playing a washing machine (wearing a large cardboard box) during training for new volunteers when we were trying to make the point that as Samaritans, we support people through trying times, we don’t solve practical problems like a broken washing machine! It was always hilarious but a memorable way to make a point!”
Nowadays, Mike said he has become aware many callers suffer mental health problems, especially post pandemic. “We as Samaritans have become acutely aware of this and while we know that people are more willing to be open about MH problems today, there’s still much to be done - especially to help young men to open up about their emotional issues.”