Radian Support Press Releases

A new sensory room in memory of Peter

A sensory room at 223 College Road, Sandhurst, Berkshire, was officially opened in memory of Peter Long who passed away in 2010. The room has been generously funded by Peter's brothers in his memory.

Attilla Polak and Lesley Palliser, who were Peter's link workers, worked with the family to order the equipment and decorate the room. The room provides lots of equipment that was generously purchased by Peter's family such as:

• A Maxi bubble tube
• A super safe fibre optic sensory light system
• An oil effect wheel lamp
• Sensory Projectors and rotators
• Mirror ball

The equipment provides a stimulating/relaxing environment for the residents who live at the home. The people we support have been making full use of the room and clearly enjoy being in there; a plaque has been placed at the entrance of the room in memory of Peter.

The Staff team, the people we support and the organisation would like to thank Peter's family for their very generous donation which will bring pleasure to the other people he lived with for many years to come.

-----

The following information about Peter was provided at the opening of the new sensory room:

Peter John Long

Born on 5th March 1945 at Perivale Maternity Home - Ealing.

Died on 14th January 2010 at Frimley Park Hospital - Frimley.

Peter was the youngest of four brothers, Norman, James and John and lived with them and his parents in Chiswick for the first 6 years of his life.

His father, Leonard, was a fireman during the Second World War attending fires in London throughout the Blitz.

The family eventually moved to a new house in Chiswick in 1949 and it was soon after arriving here that Peter's mother became seriously ill and had to go into hospital for major surgery. A daunting prospect in 1951. At this time, it had been noticed that Peter was "backward " and at five years old was unable to talk and was noisy and restless.

As his mother was in hospital and his father now had four boys under the age of 14 to look after, Peter was admitted to Church Hill House for temporary care in 1951. Church Hill House had an idyllic country setting being located in fields and woodland but only two miles from the sleepy little town of Bracknell. Times change!

By the end of 1951, despite his mother having been discharged from hospital, an application was made for Peter to stay in permanent residence at Church Hill House. Peter was to stay here until the facility was closed and the patients moved out into the community.

Whilst at Church Hill House Peter was in a closed environment. Little effort was made to stimulate his mind due to a lack in numbers of nursing staff brought about by low Government funding. This in no way reflects upon the dedication of the carers in the facility.

Peter moved into Beechcrest in Hawley with just four other patients from Church Hill House. His mental abilities blossomed and he appeared to be happier than at any other time since leaving home. He did have ulcers on his legs which caused him great discomfort. These had been with him at Church Hill House but he was now receiving better medical treatment and they did not appear to deteriorate.

Further NHS funding changes saw Peter move to College Road, probably the best move since 1951. The standard of care here was first class and Peter became more responsive to his carers and his brothers.

He delighted in his holidays and his many days out including shopping trips to buy clothes giving him a certain sartorial elegance.

Unfortunately the ulcers on his legs proved to be a major problem and, despite intensive nursing, caused his health to deteriorate dramatically in 2009. He attended Frimley Park Hospital for treatment on a regular basis accompanied by dedicated members of staff from College Road. Eventually his body was unable to cope with the increasing doses of pain killing drugs, anaesthetics and regular turbulence in his life.

Peter died at the hospital just a week before major surgery on his leg had been scheduled.

He is missed by his family and carers and this special room is in his memory and as a thank you to so many people who have given him love and affection in the latter years of his life.