Page 57 - Clarion February 2018

Clarion Clippings - The Local News

COMBATTING COMBAT STRESS BILL ELLIOTT
Philip Dunne MP, whose experience includes The Reverend Bill Elliott died in December, a well
time as a Defence Minister, offers advice on a known and respected figure in this community for
problem affecting more service personnel than many years, both in his work for the church and
we realise. as a member of the History Society. He was 97.
New research from Help for Heroes has revealed Born in Rugby in 1920, the son of a manager of a
one in four (23%) of partners or family members mineral water factory and the Royal Oak public
of an Armed Services Veteran or Service Person house, Bill attended Chapel Street Council School
state that their own wellbeing and mental health and moved on to the Lawrence Sheriff School,
has been directly affected as a result of their where he became Deputy Head Boy. Family
family member’s situation. Only five percent of financial troubles prevented him training for
those surveyed said they would seek help from a ordination and typhoid fever at 18 delayed
mental health professional. further progress and later prevented him serving
Help for Heroes estimates that there are almost in the military when war broke out.
200,000 partners and family members of Veterans In 1941 he started a teaching career in
in the UK whose well-being could be suffering as Smethwick and at a School Camp in Ribbesford in
a result of their role supporting their loved one. 1949 he met Francis Mabel Kelly, or ‘Kel’ as she
Of these, it is estimated that approximately 30,000 became known. They were married in 1950 at Peel
family members are not speaking to anyone about Parish, in Kel’s Isle of Man home and took up
it and are suffering in silence. teaching posts in Kidderminster, where their sons
Mr Dunne said: “Part of the reason our Armed Charles and Geoffrey were born. In 1960 Bill had a
Forces are so effective is due to the stalwart term of theological training at Oxford, later being
support of their families and loved ones. But we ordained and acting as honorary curate at St.
need to recognise the strain service can place on Mary’s, Kidderminster, while still teaching.
family life. In 1969 he was asked to take charge of Far Forest
There is help available from charities and parish, a position that grew as it took in the
medical professionals to help the families of neighbouring parishes of Rock with Heightington
veterans and service personnel, so there is no and Mamble cum Bayton. He officially retired in
need to suffer in silence. I urge anyone who feels 1985 and later described his 15 years at Far Forest
their loved one’s service is negatively affecting as “the most fulfilling of my life.”
their wellbeing or mental health to seek advice Bill and Kell moved into Cleobury Mortimer,
and help.” where he continued to work for the church and
Help and advice is available from Help for she as a ‘reserve organist’ for the Cleobury group
Heroes’ Hidden Wounds initiative, which of parishes. Bill had been a member of the
launched in 2014. The service provides free and Kidderminster Archaeological Society since its
confidential support to ex-Service Personnel, their foundation, including a period as Chairman.
families and the families of those still serving, When the Cleobury Mortimer History Society was
who are living with anxiety, depression, stress, formed, he was the obvious choice as its first
anger or who wish to change their drinking chairman. A stickler for factual information, he
habits. Help for Heroes also offers the Band of would send a polite reminder that this is a town if
Sisters fellowship, a community for family ever the Clarion described Cleobury Mortimer as
members of wounded, injured or sick Veterans a village. The world is a poorer place for his
and Service Personnel. passing. JR
Family members who are concerned about the ON THE SUBJECT OF HISTORY…
mental health of a Veteran close to them can Bill Elliott would respect this apology from Paul
contact Hidden Wounds using the following French for getting the planned inscription on the
details: new memorial on the Market Hall wall wrong. It
Email: hidden.wounds@helpforheroes.org.uk will in fact read: ‘To the memory of all those men
Tel: 0808 2020 144 (free from UK landlines)
and women from Cleobury Mortimer who served
in the Great War, 1914-1918, some of whom gave
their all.’
Cleobury Clarion - Page !57 - February 2018