By Mencap
Caroline and Giles’ mother Rosemary supported Mencap for almost 30 years, first becoming involved after her late son Robert was born with Down syndrome in 1964. Her family held a collection for Mencap in her memory.
“At first the doctors didn’t say anything about Robert having Down’s syndrome, but my mother spoke up as she knew something wasn’t right. Eventually doctors acknowledged my brother’s differences and suggested my mother put him in a home. There wasn’t much support at the time”
Robert was adored by his family and had plenty of personality.
“He was a very cute looking child and was chosen to go up to London to feature in a Mencap campaign A campaign is when people work together to try to change something. photoshoot when he was about 8. Robert was also rather cheeky and while waiting for his turn managed to escape out the fire exit and hop into the driver’s cab of a double-decker bus parked nearby!”
Seeking connection with other mothers who had children with a learning disability, Rosemary got involved with Mencap and soon became a passionate fundraiser.
“Some of our earliest memories are helping our mother fundraise for Mencap. Her biggest thing was the annual Christmas card sale. We’d get Mencap and Webb Ivory catalogues in the summer and order the stock ready to sell the cards and gifts. All the children were roped in to help and it was a nightmare if you made a mistake! Our mother was involved Involved is being included in something or taking part in something. selling Christmas cards right up until she retired in 1994 and, as part of a dedicated team, raised a huge amount for Mencap in that time”
“She really believed in
equality
Equality is when everyone is treated fairly.
, and in many ways was ahead of her time. She wanted things which are largely expected now but weren’t around in the 60s. She was absolutely passionate about access to
education
Education is when you learn things. When you fill in a form to get a job, education means you write where you went to school, college or university.
and my brother was one of the first students to attend Hyleford, a new special educational needs school in Ilford.”
When it came to fundraising at Rosemary’s funeral, the family felt Mencap was the right fit.
“Without needing to talk about it, my sister, father and I all knew that if people wanted to donate it should go to Mencap. We didn’t expect people to be as generous as they were, but it was really lovely to remember our mother that way. It also symbolises Robert and was a positive way to remember him too”
“Our mother would be shocked at the fuss and pleased with the generosity. She knew the effect special needs can have on a family and would be proud knowing she’d helped continue to promote equality for other people like Robert”
If you’d like to remember your loved one by donating to Mencap, we can help you honour them in a way personal to you. Your gift will help us to make life happier and healthier for people with a learning disability A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things. .
“Our mother was all about opportunities and would love this legacy. Robert had a very happy life that he thoroughly enjoyed; she would want that for all people with a learning disability”.