6 September 1944 – 15th February 2023
A number of years ago I had the pleasure of being asked by local musician Johnno Casson to come along to to what he was calling his ‘Memory Afternoon’ as part of his work with ‘The Warm & Toasty Club’.
The premise was that he went to retirement communities with his volunteers, sat in a circle and just chatted about things from the past. There were hot drinks, biscuits and entertainment as well. This wasn’t just a way to kill an afternoon but was actively helpful in solving the real problem of social isolation and helping people recall their memories.
One of the people they helped was a man named Dave Gearey. In a room full of characters, he stood out with his energy and joy. He hadn’t had the easiest of lives, but when he was in that room with friends you could tell he felt at home.
I was asked to interview Dave for one of the occasional showcases that ‘The Warm & Toasty Club’ were putting on at the Colchester Art Centre. I was a bit anxious as I wanted to make something that would do justice to this man, his life and the way in which he was benefiting from the ‘Memory Afternoons.
When it came time to show it at the event, Dave got a bit emotional, he didn’t really like talking about his past. He gained pleasure in life from making others laugh and probably felt overwhelmed at the love and attention that was getting from people that cared about him.
So it is with sadness that I went online to find out that he had died. He had some health issues towards the end of his life, but was still active with the ‘Memory Afternoons’, still making people laugh and smile.
He was a genuinely lovely guy and I’m just pleased I had the opportunity to know him, if only for a short while.
