This Website is effectively my on-going publication of my thoughts, ideas, theory and practices. I accept responsibility for all propositions and errors. This is the best I can do with the resources I have available. Having accepted responsibility for this material, I would also like to acknowledge the incredible opportunities, experiences and insights that so many people have given me. These start, as one may expect, with my family. My Mother Patricia Messer-Couchman, although acknowledged by her not to be a perfect mother, prepared me, for better or worse, to survive the incredible experience that I had as a child and as I grew up. Her influence is still there and I regret none of it, errors included. What I have written here was sparked by her and fed by the suffering she (we) endured. Well done Freud, you get it right sometimes and you have a respect for folklore that I share. The social science of their day. My Father, Cedric Couchman, was a very creative man but so abused by his own circumstances that he was at the same time an inspiration and a disappointment in my childhood. I suffered his abuses as well as his affections, although at times it was difficult to tell these apart. I survived his physical, sexual, psychological and emotional assaults to my Mother, my brothers and sisters and myself. For all that, there were cherished moments and insights that I obtained. These have stuck with me. I forgive you your errors and thank you for the inspiration. Some of my brothers and sisters were not so fortunate and suffered substantially more than myself. I have been relatively powerless (especially in later years) to directly compensate for the damage done to them. I hope that I remain an inspiration to them, however. Their experience, like my own, are not lost to the benefit of others. I give a special recognition to my brother Tony, who suffered the most as a consequence of his experiences. I know my other brothers and sisters will forgive me for that. Thank you Sheilagh, Tony, Sidney, Eddie, Barry, Danny, Caroline, Patricia, Gregory and Trevor Couchman. You have been an inspiration and a challenge to me and remain so. I thank you most for giving me the space to be me and for looking after each other when I was not capable to be much help. I also appreciate the respect you have given me and for which I did not always deserve. Thank you also for the faith you placed in me and the support you have given when it was needed. I know there are also one or two half brothers and sisters who I have not met. I wish you well too and perhaps we will find each other still. I have a special thanks, also, for my Maternal Grandparents; Arthur and Caroline Messer. They have been an inspiration in music, travel, and electronics and science, along with my Uncle Daniel Messer and his wife. I was so shy when I stayed with them but their effect on my confidence, influences in music, in science and enquiry, was reinforced by them both. My Grandparents provide a second home to us all in turn and opened my eyes to many wonders of the world, technology, cooking, piano and politics. My Aunty Alice was also a profound influence on my life. She was a great friend to my Mother and a surrogate Father to me. I remember that she always listened to me and respected all that I had to say and the questions that I asked of her. She positively encouraged my enquiring mind and saw through my shyness, dyslexia and attention deficit to see the real me. She gave me, along with my Mother, a faith in myself and my beliefs that lives with me through to today, in spite of some distractions along the way and a profound lack of confidence. I have many friends from school that I have not met for years. They had their influences, good and bad. Again, I regret nothing. You were wonderful and inspiring friends who gave me alternative perspectives on life and gave me some form of normality. Hi Terry Smith, Dennis Biney, Roger Sutton, Simon, Mike Emanuel and others. Girl friends were especially precious, if sometimes a little unfaithful and lacking in patience. Hi Janet Hancock, Christine Earl, Patricia Grew and Linda (Singing Duet) and Angela (frightened off by Patricia). Thank you to my special teachers at school, college and university. I thank all my teachers at Cedars and Camrose schools. At the Cedars, I remember Mr Main, the headmaster, and a quiet spoken teacher who first introduced be to the wonders of nature, pre-history and science; Mr Evans. I wish I could remember his full name. At Camrose school we were not the easiest bunch to keep in order, especially in the science lab. Mr Duff inspired me in general science and Mr Young, who was 74, impressed me of the wisdom and energy that can come with age. He also provided me with the opportunity to joint the electronic revolution in California, just before it became known as Silicon Valley. I did not take up on that opportunity at the time and chose instead to teach and do social work. I have no regrets, I experienced and rode on that electronics and PC revolution ever since, if at a distance. Mr THE Young was also a staunch and very active International Socialist Mr Rees helped develop my mathematics, such as it was, but he was patient and had enough faith to help me through the fundamental understandings. He also wisely warned me about the limitations in the practice of teaching. He inspired me mostly, to have faith in my limited intellect at the time. As it happens, his brother (who I never met) inspired me in my early study of Biology and Genetics. He produced the main biology text books that I used, written by Vines and Rees. Mr Paris inspired me in horticulture and tried to give me a structure to my studies. He tried his best but I outsmarted him, much to his and my own frustration. He gave me, along with my biology teachers, a respect for the natural world. I can not remember my biology teachers names at present but one inspired me in biological enquiry. He solicited my help in undertaking experiments and making drawings for his text book. The other biology teacher must have taught me much, but I was too much in love with her to remember. She ran off with my music teacher. Two losses at one time and such an influential period of my life (14 years of age). There was another school with special significance; in a small town called Hockley, in Kent, I believe. I advance there at in incredible rate over such a short time. What an inspired school that was. I learned that it is the teachers that make a school and teaching effective. I had the chance to study in an open environment with older children. It worked for me. Mr George Brown, at Chiswick Polly, had a profound influence in my social work career. He reminded me as a radical campaigner, that responsibilities come with rights and that even 'clients' had to respect this privilege. Other tutors also made a significant contribution that was little valued by the social work institutions. That said Einstein (who I never met) and R D Laing (who i did meet) have provided me with the greatest inspiration in my work, along with colleagues, other inspired tutors, students, managers and colleagues that I have met other the years. Ray Carter (Inspiring Line Manager), Bob Marsden (Researcher and friend), Robin Fleming (Assistant Direct of Social Services), Gary Ephram (Research Psychologist), Professor Elliott Jaques, Ian MacDonald (Researcher and friend) and their colleagues, BIOSS, Brunel University, Uxbridge, UK, all had a direct influence on my thinking and provided the evidence base for my continued radical practice. We didn't always see eye-to-eye but the influences were significant. The colleagues I have worked with, over the years, have all had their influence. Special amongst these are those who I worked with at the Learning Difficulties Day Centre and Hostel in Harrow, Bowman's Close (Therapeutic Community) in Ealing and the Mental Health Aftercare Hostel in the London Borough of Brent. People who specially come to mind are Minnal, Mary Morris, Angie Hall, Jenny, Linda, Ed Macleod, Gary, Lynda, Sue Dragt (later to become my wife), Carol, Caron, Abid Azis, Geoff, Mr King, and George Batey. For many others, I can remember faces, but no further names come to mind. These people were equally important and a great challenge and support. Mostly I remember their energy, inspiration, enthusiasm and commitment. Not least, the more recent managers and colleagues who do a fantastic job, often against the odds and in spite of the opposition, restrictions and poor support and resources. Thanks Jane P, Simon M, Paul M, Collin (there is only one), Carron B, Deb H, Mary C, Simon B, Lorrain C, Tracey P, Jenny Y, Clair M, Julie, Marion, Liz B, Paul W, Gill M, Mike W, Wendy, Jackie D, Colin M, Caron G, Barbara C, Chris G, Greg H, Lorrain K. and many others, including admin; Mary Pam, Sue, Andria, Lyne ......... I also have thanks for the contribution my partners and children make to my life and inspiration. Annie, Sue, Toni, Anna, Luke, Tom, Adi, Adam, Cassie, Mikhael, Isaac, Ninna, Tish, Patrick (Pom) and Josh. All my Aunts, Uncles, Nieces and Nephews and my single grandchild, Jess. I think of their futures and dread their need to make use of the services available. Not just because this will mean they have problems, that can happen to any of us. Not because the quality of professionals available, they are mostly dedicated and well intentioned. It is because of the relative ignorance and destructive effects of many institutions and prejudice and ignorant members of the community. There are two partners of particular note 'Annie Taylor', who showed such courage and determination in the face of such a debilitating and frightening condition as Huntingdon's Chorea (a pre-senile dementia). She had the strength to carry me when I failed to carry her. She showed me the strength necessary to overcome fear, persevere, face the challenges and win through in what you believe in, in spite of prejudice, judgmentally on the part of ordinary people. Anna Armstrong, who is as mad as me, but has a heart of gold and is beautiful beyond what she can see in the mirror. She is a wonderful and complex mother and inspiring and challenging partner who tolerates me beyond logic and sense. Thank you for your love, humour, support of my children, cooking and the special support you provides to kids and people in trouble, in general. I would also like to thank all the service users, voluntary workers and contributors to the projects we have co-run over the years. To this end I give a special thanks to all the service user 'voluntary' workers, who helped the Friend organisation empower itself and set up 'Your Choice'. Special thanks also to Joe S, Piers M and Paul Sheppard, who have made a contribution to the welfare of others who faced similar challenges as themselves. They inspire me in this latest venture. There is more to come but I must rest for now - lol. | |
