Meeting of the Parliament

Meeting date: Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Official Report 636KB pdf

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Time for Reflection

Good afternoon. The first item of business this afternoon is time for reflection. Our time for reflection leader is Bob Holman, who is one of the founders of Family Action in Rogerfield and Easterhouse.

Last September. A phone call from the hospital: “Come in first thing in the morning.” Next day, the consultant said, “I’m sorry, Mr Holman, the biopsy shows you have cancer.” The cancer had spread from the lymph glands to other organs and I was at stage four, the most serious stage. I started six months’ chemotherapy. Its side effects are sickness, exhaustion, mouth ulcers, nails dropping off and hair loss. My grandsons called me baldy Bob.

Less recognised are the social effects. To avoid infection, I was instructed not to attend meetings or use public transport. I could attend church once a fortnight if I sat at the back, wore gloves and declined hugs and kisses. Yet there are always positives. First, I felt embraced by the love of my family and the care of Annette, who earned the title of matron. Second, I received many letters and visits. In Easterhouse, I was the visitor; now I became the visited. Two young men who had been terrors at our youth club in Easterhouse came to see me. One was now a residential social worker. The other was in the army and due for Afghanistan. They wanted to tell me that the club had diverted them from gangs and trouble—that cheered me. Third, my faith in God was strengthened. I realised that, whatever happened, I did believe. After a scan, I was feeling a bit lonely and the radiographer came to chat. I asked her what was the best thing that had happened to her in the past 10 years. She replied, “I found God.” I realised that I was never alone.

The chemo stopped in March, and the tests suggested that it had been mainly successful. Last month, I saw a consultant and we chatted football. I am for West Ham—don’t laugh—and he was for Celtic. He paused, then said that he was cautiously optimistic. Optimistic about Celtic? No, he had changed the subject and was talking about my cancer. He is cautiously optimistic about my future. I am recovering, and next month I am determined to attend a camp, to which Easterhouse youngsters go, for my 35th successive year.

I have just published a book on Keir Hardie, the great Christian socialist. He suffered severe illnesses. He could not afford the treatment, which was paid for by his working-class colleagues. Hardie foresaw a free health service. I remember the creation of the national health service in 1948. My parents, who were not political people, rejoiced. I thank God for it, and I will always strive to preserve it as a public national health service.