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You are here: usher stories > usher humour > helpline |
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HelpLINE Norma Morgan, Essex (Jeremy's mother) On a Tuesday evening in August 1991, Jeremy and I planned to be at "SENSE" headquarters, Gray's Inn Road to help with any phone calls that may come in to the "HELPLINE", which had been organised as result of the "See Hear" programme on Usher syndrome. (You may have seen it or know about it). The evening started as planned. I met Jeremy from work at Leystonestone tube station (in East London) at 5.45pm and we set off on the journey to Kings Cross. The train had successfully gone through four stations joining the network of tunnels when it suddenly decided to come to a halt just after leaving Bethnal Green station. At that time it was 5.55pm. 6.10pm the train still had not moved. 6.15pm the same. 6.20pm - action! The guard from the rear of the train walked through opening all the doors as he went. More action - an annoucement, thankfully, for those of us who could hear "Ladies and Gentlemen, we apologise for the delay but the fire brigade are investigating a small fire at Bank station. We hope it won't be too long before we can continue our journey" I explained to Jeremy. More action - the guard returned. He explained that we were waiting for a team of rescuers to escort us on a very long walk through the tunnels to Liverpool Street station. At this stage I thought I ought to mention to the guard about Jeremy's night blindness. He then insisted we needed a "special escort" of our own which he would arrange. 7.40pm we were the last two to leave the train, Jeremy with an escort arm around his waist, and me trotting behind. It was an eerie walk through, at one stage having to walk through another train that had been abandoned. It was like taking part in some dramatic, tense film. We eventually emerged at Liverpool Street station at 8.00pm to welcome drinks of fizzy water and looking rather smudged with oil and dirt. We then went straight to phone to to inform SENSE why we had not arrived. "Hello" came the response "This is SENSE HELPLINE. Can we help you?" We were sensibly advised to make our way home! NOTE FROM JEREMY It was really a great experience walking through the dark tunnel for twenty minutes. But the most important thing.... if my mother had not been with me what would I have done next!!! |
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