Chapter Nine
'Beth in Manchester'
Beth arrived in Salford, Manchester during the spring of 1972. She was twenty nine years of age and three months pregnant at the time. Being a single women, she would have found it difficult securing accommodation without the company of a man unless she'd been able to pay one month's rent in advance.
However, during her fourth month of pregnancy, she had started to show and that was enough for the landlady to end her tenancy. The landlady seemed more concerned with maintaining the reputation of her business over and above that of its profit. Pregnant women without a man was an unwelcome tenant for most landlords, along with Irish and West Indians.
While initially, Beth had veered towards the likelihood of terminating her pregnancy at the earliest opportunity, when it came down to it, she just couldn't. She didn't want a baby, but neither was she prepared to kill an innocent babe who'd harmed nobody.
However, during her fourth month of pregnancy, she had started to show and that was enough for the landlady to end her tenancy. The landlady seemed more concerned with maintaining the reputation of her business over and above that of its profit. Pregnant women without a man was an unwelcome tenant for most landlords, along with Irish and West Indians.
While initially, Beth had veered towards the likelihood of terminating her pregnancy at the earliest opportunity, when it came down to it, she just couldn't. She didn't want a baby, but neither was she prepared to kill an innocent babe who'd harmed nobody.
So she slowly reconciled herself to giving birth to the child and trying her best to make a home for it. Given her pregnant state, which was now impossible to disguise, Beth knew that she would find it extremely difficult, if not impossible to persuade any employer to take her on in this condition, knowing that she would have to be laid off in a good three months down the line.
Beth eventually managed to secure herself work in a mill in Manchester. It was a part time job of operating a drying machine which involved little more than pressing buttons as opposed to any heavy work. The woman who ususally operated the machine had gone into hospital two days before Beth had applied for the job with a bowel complaint that required an operation. She was anticipated to be away from work for around three months and Beth was taken on purely on a temporary basis which suited her ideally.
Over the previous years she'd spent at Harrison Gardner's, Beth had saved up a goodly amount and had over £2,000 in her post office account. With the average price of a house running at £7,000, Beth knew that she had enough to put down a good deposit at a future date if she did decide to buy. Securing a mortgage as a single woman however in 1972 was simply not done! Without a man at one's side, a woman became less than a person of any serious consideration in the world of high finance, whatever her prospects or bank balance happened to be.
Over the previous years she'd spent at Harrison Gardner's, Beth had saved up a goodly amount and had over £2,000 in her post office account. With the average price of a house running at £7,000, Beth knew that she had enough to put down a good deposit at a future date if she did decide to buy. Securing a mortgage as a single woman however in 1972 was simply not done! Without a man at one's side, a woman became less than a person of any serious consideration in the world of high finance, whatever her prospects or bank balance happened to be.
Beth's new employers was called 'Shay's Textiles' and while its rate of pay couldn't match that which any employer of Harrison Gardner's could earn in an hour, the thirty hours weekly that Beth was contracted to work was sufficient to pay for her rent and upkeep. She knew that more money would be needed to supply the baby when it was born if she wasn't to eat into her savings too much. Each wage day Beth would put some monies aside for the expectant child and her first purchase for the baby to be was a cot, which had the colourful print of a bunny rabbit at each end.
Beth kept her head down at 'Shay's Textiles' and when the time came for her to leave and the other woman operative had returned to reclaim her old job, the management indicated that they'd been highly satisfied with her and invited Beth to reapply for work with them should she choose to return to work after the birth of her baby.
Beth kept her head down at 'Shay's Textiles' and when the time came for her to leave and the other woman operative had returned to reclaim her old job, the management indicated that they'd been highly satisfied with her and invited Beth to reapply for work with them should she choose to return to work after the birth of her baby.
Over the past five years, Beth had continued to drink liberally in her own company during an evening and once she finished at Shay's Textiles in her seventh month of pregnancy, instead of drinking less she found herself drinking more and more.
She knew she shouldn't have been drinking so much in her condition, but she just couldn't seem to stop herself opening a new bottle of wine in the afternoon and finishing it before her evening meal, when she would then drink a few gin and tonics or even open another bottle of red before calling it a day.
She knew she shouldn't have been drinking so much in her condition, but she just couldn't seem to stop herself opening a new bottle of wine in the afternoon and finishing it before her evening meal, when she would then drink a few gin and tonics or even open another bottle of red before calling it a day.
Beth now occupied a grubby one-bedroomed flat in a less salubrious part of Salford, not far from the area's red light district. Given her status and condition, it was the only place she could get. Some of the evenings she drank it made her happy and on other occasions it seemed to depress her and make her feel lethargic.
The landlord was an overweight Greek who had greasy hair and constantly smelled of garlic. He was happy enough to rent out his flat to a pregnant woman of single status so long as she could pay his weekly rate of £18.
The landlord was an overweight Greek who had greasy hair and constantly smelled of garlic. He was happy enough to rent out his flat to a pregnant woman of single status so long as she could pay his weekly rate of £18.
One night when he knocked on Beth's door to collect the rent, Beth had drank too much wine and was inebriated. Sensing his heightened prospects and being wholly unconcerned that she was now eight months pregnant, he went to kiss her on the nape of her neck when her back was turned to him.
Then before Beth could protest, he tried to embrace her and with both their large stomachs in close proximity, Beth forcefully pushed him away. The landlord sensibly backed off and left the room after obtaining her weekly rent and marking her rent book.
Then before Beth could protest, he tried to embrace her and with both their large stomachs in close proximity, Beth forcefully pushed him away. The landlord sensibly backed off and left the room after obtaining her weekly rent and marking her rent book.
The landlord recognised that Beth liked to knock back her wine and he still felt aggrieved in the manner she had rebuffed his advances. So after her baby girl had been born and Beth had returned to the flat, the landlord sought suitable revenge at the first opportunity.
One evening he noticed Beth return to the flat pushing her child in a pram. She had been drinking in the park that afternoon and on her way home she called into Yate's Wine Lodge in town and had bought a bottle of red which she had partially drunk before she'd got back to her rented flat, with her child in tow.
One evening he noticed Beth return to the flat pushing her child in a pram. She had been drinking in the park that afternoon and on her way home she called into Yate's Wine Lodge in town and had bought a bottle of red which she had partially drunk before she'd got back to her rented flat, with her child in tow.
The landlord pretended to be a concerned person who was extremely worried for the child whose mother was an undoubted drunk. He called the Social Services Department and within half an hour, Beth was visited by a female Social Worker who was also accompanied by a police man.
It was quite apparent from both sight and smell of Beth that she was highly intoxicated. Nearby the infant cried in its pram. As Beth went to comfort her daughter, the Social Worker prevented her and instead picked up the child from the pram herself and told Beth that she would hold the infant overnight under the emergency provisions provided to her in cases of children at risk. She further added that tomorrow morning she would seek an Interim Care Order from the Magistrate's Court.
Beth started to lose her temper as her child was snatched from her hands and at this point, the policeman arrested her for being drunk in charge of a minor and took her to the local police cells for the night.
It was quite apparent from both sight and smell of Beth that she was highly intoxicated. Nearby the infant cried in its pram. As Beth went to comfort her daughter, the Social Worker prevented her and instead picked up the child from the pram herself and told Beth that she would hold the infant overnight under the emergency provisions provided to her in cases of children at risk. She further added that tomorrow morning she would seek an Interim Care Order from the Magistrate's Court.
Beth started to lose her temper as her child was snatched from her hands and at this point, the policeman arrested her for being drunk in charge of a minor and took her to the local police cells for the night.
XXXXX
That night was the longest night that Beth ever spent. Despite being drunk, she never slept a wink until 6 am the following morning when she felt obliged to close her eyes due to fatigue. When she did appear before the court that morning, her hair was greasy and unwashed and she stood up in the clothes she'd slept in. She kept her head bowed low as the magistrate addressed her and in her few replies Beth felt deeply ashamed of having placed herself in this embarrassing position. She was fined a sum of £15 and released with a One Year Conditional Discharge.
Around the same time that morning in another court, the Social Worker was seeking an Interim Care Order on Beth's daughter Clare and it was granted by the presiding magistrates without Beth even being present in court. By the time Beth had discovered in which court the Interim Care Order was being applied for, it was too late. The case had been called and the judgement handed down over half an hour before she got there.
Beth instantly made her way to the Social Services Department. She was fuming and had she crossed paths with that Social Worker en route she would undoubtedly have torn out her hair and done her some physical damage! When Beth finally entered the offices of the Social Services Department, she was seen by another worker; a Senior Area Officer who told her what would now happen.
Around the same time that morning in another court, the Social Worker was seeking an Interim Care Order on Beth's daughter Clare and it was granted by the presiding magistrates without Beth even being present in court. By the time Beth had discovered in which court the Interim Care Order was being applied for, it was too late. The case had been called and the judgement handed down over half an hour before she got there.
Beth instantly made her way to the Social Services Department. She was fuming and had she crossed paths with that Social Worker en route she would undoubtedly have torn out her hair and done her some physical damage! When Beth finally entered the offices of the Social Services Department, she was seen by another worker; a Senior Area Officer who told her what would now happen.
"Miss Williams, as you no doubt know, an Intertim Care Order has been granted by the local Magistrate's Court this morning for twenty eight days. In the meantime, your daughter Clare will be placed with suitable foster parents who will look after her every need. We will interview you on a couple of occasions before we return to court and after deciding what is in 'the best interest of the child', we will make our recommendation to court. I would stress that it is in your own long term interest to cooperate with the decision of court today and with the Social Services Department in the meantime. You are advised to obtain a solicitor to represent you before the next court hearing. Now, if there is no other way I can help you, I'll say good day and we will be in touch shortly."
"But..... Clare...........where is she?...........who is she with?.........am I able to see her?" Beth asked.
"I'm very sorry Miss Williams, but that won't be possible before the next court hearing," the Senior Area Social Worker replied to Beth."
"But..... Clare...........where is she?...........who is she with?.........am I able to see her?" Beth asked.
"I'm very sorry Miss Williams, but that won't be possible before the next court hearing," the Senior Area Social Worker replied to Beth."
"But why?" Beth pleaded. "I've never harmed a hair on Clare's head. Why should I be denied the right to see my own daughter instead of being treated like some monster to be kept at bay at all cost?"
"I'm afraid that's the way it is, Miss Williams. You must forgive me, but I am needed at a case conference and am already running late," she said before hastily departing.
Instead of going back home to cry or taking herself off to immediately see a solicitor, Beth felt compelled to have one small glass of wine in Yate's Wine Lodge in town. Her world had been turned upside down again and she didn't feel she could cope a moment longer without a small drink.
"I'm afraid that's the way it is, Miss Williams. You must forgive me, but I am needed at a case conference and am already running late," she said before hastily departing.
Instead of going back home to cry or taking herself off to immediately see a solicitor, Beth felt compelled to have one small glass of wine in Yate's Wine Lodge in town. Her world had been turned upside down again and she didn't feel she could cope a moment longer without a small drink.
Needless to say, Beth imbibed much more than one glass that day and it was 11 pm closing time before she arrived back home and staggered to her flat; having stumbled and fallen at least twice between entering the building and placing her key in her door lock. Once inside, she slumped down on the bed and was out for the count! The only saving grace about the whole sorry mess was that the infant Clare was still too young to understand all that was going on around her and Beth was too drunk to properly grieve her absence.
XXXXX
One week later, Margaret Naylor, the Senior Social Worker who'd initially interviewed her on the evening Clare had been taken from her, arranged to visit Beth at home for the purpose of another interview and to assess her capacity to cope with the demands of an infant. She was accompanied by a male colleague; a safety precaution it would appear in the event of Beth kicking off and assaulting the female Social Worker.
Beth had made sure that she hadn't had a drink that day, but had been unaware that as Margaret Naylor was interviewing her, her colleague was checking over the condition and outlay of her flat. The flat had been cleaned as well as Beth could clean it as she'd no intention of losing her daughter over the completion of a good mop and wipe down.
During the course of the interview, Beth could see the way that it was going. The death of her parents, the suicide of her father and the taking into care of herself and two younger sisters was information that seemed to confirm her as a problem adult with a problem past; someone who would become a problem mother if her daughter remained under her care and supervision.
Beth had made sure that she hadn't had a drink that day, but had been unaware that as Margaret Naylor was interviewing her, her colleague was checking over the condition and outlay of her flat. The flat had been cleaned as well as Beth could clean it as she'd no intention of losing her daughter over the completion of a good mop and wipe down.
During the course of the interview, Beth could see the way that it was going. The death of her parents, the suicide of her father and the taking into care of herself and two younger sisters was information that seemed to confirm her as a problem adult with a problem past; someone who would become a problem mother if her daughter remained under her care and supervision.
Then there was the obvious problem of her having an odd drink too many on too often an occasion. Beth didn't dare tell them about her first rape by her foster father at the age of thirteen years, the fact that she'd been reared in Care herself as a teenager, her part in the covering up of Martin Meggin's death and disappearance; let alone the fact that she couldn't name the father of her daughter Clare or that she'd been raped a second time; this time whilst being drunk and probably drugged! Each time she was asked a question that she chose not to answer, she nervously shielded her eyes.
When pressed to do so, Beth just refused to name Clare's father. This was a position that made her position of suitability as a parent and an open person even more questionable. As the two Social Workers left at the end of the interview, the male worker who was holding a bit of waste paper in his hands looked around for the bin to dispose of it in. Beth said, 'It's outside' and as she led him out through the back door she realised that the bin men hadn't done their weekly collection yet and that there were still signs of her drinking that week at the side of the black bin. Seeing the empty alcohol bottles, he simply looked across at his colleague and the two Social Workers gave Beth a look of disapproval.
Seeing that he'd spotted the empty wine bottles at the side of her bin, Beth angrily said, "I've a right to have a glass at the end of the bloody day, and as far as I know there's no law saying having a glass of wine with a meal in the privacy of one's home is a crime, is there?"
Neither of the Social Workers answered her, but instead hastily left.
Seeing that he'd spotted the empty wine bottles at the side of her bin, Beth angrily said, "I've a right to have a glass at the end of the bloody day, and as far as I know there's no law saying having a glass of wine with a meal in the privacy of one's home is a crime, is there?"
Neither of the Social Workers answered her, but instead hastily left.
XXXXX
Beth naturally managed to make it to the next court hearing with her solicitor. She had seen a copy of the Social Worker's report to court half an hour in advance of the hearing and disagreed with a lot of its content, some of its inferences and above all its conclusion. The Senior Social Worker had unequivocally recommended that a full Care Order be made upon the infant Clare and that all form of ongoing access by the mother Beth Williams be denied in the 'paramount interest of the child concerned'. This recommendation heavily questioned her capacity to function as a suitable mother of an infant when she clearly had an addiction to alcohol.
Beth's solicitor was in his late thirties, but his receding hair made him look older and much more professional than he actually was. Although he was there to represent her in the court proceedings, he seemed a feeble advocate and allowed all of the Senior Social Worker's inaccurate comments to the magistrates to be made without protest or seeking to correct them. He looked a real walkover in his blue serge suit and dickey bow tie. In short, Beth quickly summed up that her solicitor was a waste of time, still lived at home with his mammy and was probably knocking off the Social Worker on the side when her husband was away from home!
Half way through the proceedings Beth couldn't hear another slanderous comment said about her in continued silence. She wasn't prepared to take any more while this woman who didn't know her and who'd spent less than an hour in her company in the whole of her life, continued to discuss her like an open book to the three wise monkeys on a bench!
Beth's solicitor was in his late thirties, but his receding hair made him look older and much more professional than he actually was. Although he was there to represent her in the court proceedings, he seemed a feeble advocate and allowed all of the Senior Social Worker's inaccurate comments to the magistrates to be made without protest or seeking to correct them. He looked a real walkover in his blue serge suit and dickey bow tie. In short, Beth quickly summed up that her solicitor was a waste of time, still lived at home with his mammy and was probably knocking off the Social Worker on the side when her husband was away from home!
Half way through the proceedings Beth couldn't hear another slanderous comment said about her in continued silence. She wasn't prepared to take any more while this woman who didn't know her and who'd spent less than an hour in her company in the whole of her life, continued to discuss her like an open book to the three wise monkeys on a bench!
"I've had enough of this nonsense!" Beth protested loudly to the three magistrates on the bench. "She doesn't know.........what gives her the right to say that I'm an unfit mother? She doesn't know me from Joe Bloggs! What makes her an expert on knowing the nature of the bond between me and Clare? I bet she isn't even a mother!"
The head magistrate banged his gavel on the bench and said to Beth's solicitor in a somewhat superior tone of voice, "Please keep your client under control, Mr Brown or if you cannot I'm afraid I shall have her removed from this court for the remainder of these proceedings. I shall not be shouted at!"
Beth's solicitor whispered in her ear for her to sit down and control herself, but Beth was having none of it. She continued to object to not having been able to see Clare once during the Interim Proceedings and particularly to the recommendation that a full Care Order be made and that all access to Clare be denied to her on the grounds of being 'in the paramount interest of the child,' along with Beth being an unfit mother!
The head magistrate banged his gavel on the bench and said to Beth's solicitor in a somewhat superior tone of voice, "Please keep your client under control, Mr Brown or if you cannot I'm afraid I shall have her removed from this court for the remainder of these proceedings. I shall not be shouted at!"
Beth's solicitor whispered in her ear for her to sit down and control herself, but Beth was having none of it. She continued to object to not having been able to see Clare once during the Interim Proceedings and particularly to the recommendation that a full Care Order be made and that all access to Clare be denied to her on the grounds of being 'in the paramount interest of the child,' along with Beth being an unfit mother!
The head magistrate, with some professed reluctance, had Beth removed from court. Before she was escorted out by the Court Usher, Beth gave the magisterial bench a look of utter disgust. During her absence the magistrate made an Order in full compliance with the recommendation of the Social Services Department.
When Beth's solicitor told her the outcome, he kept his conversation as brief as possible with her. She had no intention of having him slink off however without giving him 'what for'. She started to berate him for his feeble court performance and called him 'a dead loss'. Then Beth entered into a tirade of abuse that she levelled against the whole court system as being nothing short of being 'corrupt'. The solicitor allowed her these moments of anger to be expressed without interruption and recognised that she needed to get it off her chest before leaving the court house. She had after all, lost both custody and access to her only child.
When Beth left the court building that day, she felt like throwing herself off the nearest bridge or beneath the first bus she passed. For over an hour she sat on a bench silently as she thought what next to do for the best before standing up and saying, "Fuck it. I'm off for a drink!"
When Beth left the court building that day, she felt like throwing herself off the nearest bridge or beneath the first bus she passed. For over an hour she sat on a bench silently as she thought what next to do for the best before standing up and saying, "Fuck it. I'm off for a drink!"
XXXXX
Beth did not see her daughter Clare again and despite all of her efforts to trace the child's wherabouts, she was unsuccessful. Had Beth been able to find Clare, without a shadow of doubt, she would had kidnapped her daughter and taken her back to Southern Ireland at the first opportunity, outside the reaches of the British judicial system.
Six months later, every penny of Beth's post office account had been withdrawn by her to fund her alcoholic addiction and being in arrears with the rent for her flat, she was duly evicted from it, wholly penniless and destitute! She left carrying only what would fit in a plastic bag. As she wandered the streets, she imbibed her alcohol through the disguise of an innocent plastic cup and straw she drank from.
Six months later, every penny of Beth's post office account had been withdrawn by her to fund her alcoholic addiction and being in arrears with the rent for her flat, she was duly evicted from it, wholly penniless and destitute! She left carrying only what would fit in a plastic bag. As she wandered the streets, she imbibed her alcohol through the disguise of an innocent plastic cup and straw she drank from.
XXXXX
Over the next fifteen years, between the ages of thirty and forty five, Beth spent the best part of this period as the life of an alcoholic, living rough on the streets of Manchester. In this decade and a half, her hard alcoholic life on the streets and sleeping rough robbed her of those beautiful features of face that once came so naturally to her. The years of abusing her liver and overall health gradually gave her the hard looks of a prison inmate.
During this period, she generally remained oblivious to the true nature of her plight from one day to the next as she did whatever was required to obtain her daily supply of preferred alcohol or a roof above her head. Being of 'no fixed abode' she frequently found herself unable to receive any financial assistance from the state during the earlier years. Gradually, sleeping rough and living hard militated against Beth maintaining her overall level of cleanliness and hygiene. She would allow her uncombed and unwashed hair to matt and it would invariably be riddled with fleas and nits.
More times than not in the warmer months, Beth would sleep in the park or in some bus shelter or shop doorway, covered only by an old blanket and laid upon a large piece of cardboard. During the cold nights of winter, she would try to get sheltered accommodation inside a hostel for the night, but such places were extremely hard to get, being in great demand by the homeless. Even when one did secure a bed for the night in a hostel, it was in a crowded dorm of mixed-sex occupants; all of whom would steal your belongings from you while you slept if the opportunity provided itself. Consequently, hostel residents slept easier when they slept with one eye closed and the other on their belongings!
During this period, she generally remained oblivious to the true nature of her plight from one day to the next as she did whatever was required to obtain her daily supply of preferred alcohol or a roof above her head. Being of 'no fixed abode' she frequently found herself unable to receive any financial assistance from the state during the earlier years. Gradually, sleeping rough and living hard militated against Beth maintaining her overall level of cleanliness and hygiene. She would allow her uncombed and unwashed hair to matt and it would invariably be riddled with fleas and nits.
More times than not in the warmer months, Beth would sleep in the park or in some bus shelter or shop doorway, covered only by an old blanket and laid upon a large piece of cardboard. During the cold nights of winter, she would try to get sheltered accommodation inside a hostel for the night, but such places were extremely hard to get, being in great demand by the homeless. Even when one did secure a bed for the night in a hostel, it was in a crowded dorm of mixed-sex occupants; all of whom would steal your belongings from you while you slept if the opportunity provided itself. Consequently, hostel residents slept easier when they slept with one eye closed and the other on their belongings!
When a hostel place could not be obtained during cold winter nights, the homeless would look out for any unused dwelling to squat in or as a last resort, if one was either a young girl, boy or woman, one would often be tempted to sell that part of one's body someone else was willing to buy in exchange for a roof over one's head until the morning or a bottle of booze. However bad Beth's circumstances ever came though, while she might resort to episodes of shop lifting, for the first five years of living rough she refused to stoop so low as to sell her body on the streets as so many other women in her circumstances did, but as she became more dependent upon alcohol, she relented. During her worse alcoholic years of living rough, she made friends with an outreach worker who often tried to get her a hostel bed whenever she could.
Throughout her development, and with the single occasion that she had felt randy on the evening of her date with George Munt many years earlier, Beth had never been worried about the absence of sexual relationships in her life. And with a few exceptions, she had rarely resorted to the practice of masturbation since her first years of puberty.
It wasn't that Beth was frigid, but more that she just didn't see the point in being with a man, unless it was to pleasure a man, as it certainly didn't pleasure her! Over her fifteen years on the streets of Manchester, while she had allowed a number of men to have sex with her in order to obtain alcohol or accommodation for the night, she never considered such action to represent any form of prostitution; more a matter of survival. With the exception of one time when she fell pregnant again, she immediately got it aborted and vowed to herself that she'd enter a nunnery before she'd share the intimacy of her body with any man ever again!
Throughout her development, and with the single occasion that she had felt randy on the evening of her date with George Munt many years earlier, Beth had never been worried about the absence of sexual relationships in her life. And with a few exceptions, she had rarely resorted to the practice of masturbation since her first years of puberty.
It wasn't that Beth was frigid, but more that she just didn't see the point in being with a man, unless it was to pleasure a man, as it certainly didn't pleasure her! Over her fifteen years on the streets of Manchester, while she had allowed a number of men to have sex with her in order to obtain alcohol or accommodation for the night, she never considered such action to represent any form of prostitution; more a matter of survival. With the exception of one time when she fell pregnant again, she immediately got it aborted and vowed to herself that she'd enter a nunnery before she'd share the intimacy of her body with any man ever again!
Beth had been living as a destitute alcoholic on the Manchester streets for thirteen years before one day reuniting herself with her past. As she passed through the area of Salford, she found herself entering the charitable soup kitchen that she had often served in during her Christmas days as a shop steward with Harrison Gardner's, only this time she was a woman on the opposite side of the counter.
As she tucked into the warm leek soup with around fifteen other diners, she looked around hoping not to see a face from the past who could now see how far she'd fallen since they'd last seen her. She couldn't. She then satisfied herself with the knowledge that even were she to bump into someone whom she'd met thirteen years before, that too much water would have in the meantime flowed beneath the bridge and with her change in circumstances and unkempt appearance, they'd never recognise her as one and the same person.
As she tucked into the warm leek soup with around fifteen other diners, she looked around hoping not to see a face from the past who could now see how far she'd fallen since they'd last seen her. She couldn't. She then satisfied herself with the knowledge that even were she to bump into someone whom she'd met thirteen years before, that too much water would have in the meantime flowed beneath the bridge and with her change in circumstances and unkempt appearance, they'd never recognise her as one and the same person.
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It was during her 44th year of life when Beth was to incur an accident, which was to eventually bring about a radical change in her circumstances; ensuring that she'd leave behind her the destitution of the streets and return to a more normal living pattern in which she no longer drank alcohol or either looked or acted like a tramp.
On the afternoon in question, Beth was crossing the road from one side to the other during busy traffic when she was hit by a large lorry, who'd actually ran over her before he could stop. The wagon had first hit another car and had then swerved to miss four pedestrians, before running over Beth and crashing into another parked vehicle before stopping. Prior to knocking Beth down, the lorry driver was in the process of remonstrating with a cyclist who'd crossed a red light earlier on without stopping.
Beth finished up beneath the undercarriage of the wagon with one leg of her body wrapped around the drive propeller shaft. While a number of passers by tried to get her out from beneath the wagon, they were unable to. All the while they waited for an ambulance to arrive, Beth remained conscious. The pain was so great; indeed too great for it to register.
On the afternoon in question, Beth was crossing the road from one side to the other during busy traffic when she was hit by a large lorry, who'd actually ran over her before he could stop. The wagon had first hit another car and had then swerved to miss four pedestrians, before running over Beth and crashing into another parked vehicle before stopping. Prior to knocking Beth down, the lorry driver was in the process of remonstrating with a cyclist who'd crossed a red light earlier on without stopping.
Beth finished up beneath the undercarriage of the wagon with one leg of her body wrapped around the drive propeller shaft. While a number of passers by tried to get her out from beneath the wagon, they were unable to. All the while they waited for an ambulance to arrive, Beth remained conscious. The pain was so great; indeed too great for it to register.
Nearby was a new building being erected and when the workers saw the predicament, half a dozen men from the building site came across with two planks of wood scaffolding and in pairs of threes, they prised the heavy wagon up while a seventh person tried to pull Beth out from beneath.
"Hang in there," the man said reassuringly as he was about to crawl beneath the lorry to retrieve Beth. Before he could do so however, the weight of the lorry proved too heavy for the six building workers to hold and they had to let it back to rest upon the ground and upon Beth.
As the weight of the lorry returned to crush her chest once more, Beth passed out. Minutes later, the six building workers prised up the lorry again and this time they managed to hold the weight of it until Beth had been dragged to safety and placed in a waiting ambulance.
"Hang in there," the man said reassuringly as he was about to crawl beneath the lorry to retrieve Beth. Before he could do so however, the weight of the lorry proved too heavy for the six building workers to hold and they had to let it back to rest upon the ground and upon Beth.
As the weight of the lorry returned to crush her chest once more, Beth passed out. Minutes later, the six building workers prised up the lorry again and this time they managed to hold the weight of it until Beth had been dragged to safety and placed in a waiting ambulance.
Over the next week, Beth drifted in and out of consciousness in the 'Salford Royal Hospital' where she occupied a side room off the main ward; given the near death experience she'd had and the multiple and life threatening injuries the accident had caused.
Initially, as the majority of her ribs had been crushed she was unable to breathe and she also had a lung puncture that was life threatening. As the doctors and surgeon operated to save her life, they feared the worst. As to her left leg that had been wrapped around the lorry axle, this had been broken on the knee and had to be left until the more serious in juries had been treated.
For three full weeks Beth remained on the critical list and she drifted in and out of consciousness as white-coated medical-shadows in the room around her bed discussed her case. By the time that it seemed clear that Beth had emerged from the worst of her ordeal and had escaped death, her left leg had set badly and took dozens of operations over the next six months to get almost straight enough to walk upon. It would however remain stiff for the remainder of Beth's life and would carry a huge scar across the knee and on the calf.
Initially, as the majority of her ribs had been crushed she was unable to breathe and she also had a lung puncture that was life threatening. As the doctors and surgeon operated to save her life, they feared the worst. As to her left leg that had been wrapped around the lorry axle, this had been broken on the knee and had to be left until the more serious in juries had been treated.
For three full weeks Beth remained on the critical list and she drifted in and out of consciousness as white-coated medical-shadows in the room around her bed discussed her case. By the time that it seemed clear that Beth had emerged from the worst of her ordeal and had escaped death, her left leg had set badly and took dozens of operations over the next six months to get almost straight enough to walk upon. It would however remain stiff for the remainder of Beth's life and would carry a huge scar across the knee and on the calf.
Beth was to learn in hospital, that had she not been drunk at the time of her accident, the sheer pain of the wagon being lifted off her and then put back down on her would have proved sufficient of itself to have killed her. For once in her life, alcohol had truly come to her rescue. It was added however, that unless she stopped drinking immediately and never drank alcohol again, she would die through liver failure before she was aged fifty!
During her six months in 'Salford Royal Hospital', Beth was offered counselling by a Social Worker there. At first she refused outright to talk with any social worker and eventually she undertook such counselling under the greatest of reluctance. She instinctively distrusted all social workers based upon her previous experiences of them.
However, Megan Riley, the Hospital Social Worker was not a person to give up easily or at the first obstacle of client resistance. She intended to do her level best to pull out all the stops and to use all the powers at her persuasion to help Beth, whom she clearly liked. Over the next four months of Beth's stay in hospital, Megan's gentleness and understanding of Beth's feelings and past situation led the former shop steward to allow her social work scepticism to 'go on strike' for long enough to eventually invest trust again.
During her six months in 'Salford Royal Hospital', Beth was offered counselling by a Social Worker there. At first she refused outright to talk with any social worker and eventually she undertook such counselling under the greatest of reluctance. She instinctively distrusted all social workers based upon her previous experiences of them.
However, Megan Riley, the Hospital Social Worker was not a person to give up easily or at the first obstacle of client resistance. She intended to do her level best to pull out all the stops and to use all the powers at her persuasion to help Beth, whom she clearly liked. Over the next four months of Beth's stay in hospital, Megan's gentleness and understanding of Beth's feelings and past situation led the former shop steward to allow her social work scepticism to 'go on strike' for long enough to eventually invest trust again.
Within a few months and interviews every alternate day, Beth had told Megan every significant experience and event she'd encountered in 44 years of life. Indeed, recognising how emotionally traumatised and psychologically damaged such experiences had left Beth, Megan, who was only supposed to interview Beth for one and a half hours once weekly, finished up interviewing her three times weekly for a couple of hours a time!
During her final month as a hospital inmate, Social Worker Megan offered to strike a bargain with Beth. She said that providing she was prepared to enter a dry house upon her discharge from hospital and to remain there as a resident until they judged her fit to leave it and take up independent living once more, she would assist her all she could in trying to initiate future contact between herself and her daughter Clare, if she could be traced and if Clare agreed to meet up with Beth.
"Would you do that for me?" Beth asked Megan with tears in her eyes, "After all I've been and done over the years? I don't deserve that!"
"I would," replied Megan, "And you do deserve it! It's less a matter of what you've done and more in my view of what was done to you that makes you what you're like today!"
During her final month as a hospital inmate, Social Worker Megan offered to strike a bargain with Beth. She said that providing she was prepared to enter a dry house upon her discharge from hospital and to remain there as a resident until they judged her fit to leave it and take up independent living once more, she would assist her all she could in trying to initiate future contact between herself and her daughter Clare, if she could be traced and if Clare agreed to meet up with Beth.
"Would you do that for me?" Beth asked Megan with tears in her eyes, "After all I've been and done over the years? I don't deserve that!"
"I would," replied Megan, "And you do deserve it! It's less a matter of what you've done and more in my view of what was done to you that makes you what you're like today!"
Megan promised that she'd also make enquiries with the 'Dewsbury Social Services Department' with a view of tracing and contacting her daughter Clare the very day Beth entered the dry house to receive long-term help with breaking her alcoholic addiction.
"But........ you know I've not had a drink for months now, ever since the day of my traffic accident," Beth remarked. She sat herself down on the floor in the corner of the room as if to sulk. Her Social Worker seemed to be doubting her ability to break her alcoholic addiction.
"Don't be kidded by those incidental details," Megan replied. "You are no less of an alcohol addict today than you were when they brought you into hospital after getting run down by the lorry. The fact that you've been bed-bound and immobilised for that entire period were the only things stopping you walking off the ward, signing yourself out and visiting the first pub you passed, so don't be fooled."
Beth agreed. She had not dared considered the prospect of ever seeing her daughter again ever since she'd developed an addiction to the drink and although she wouldn't allow herself the faintest belief that such would ever happen, the mere chance, however slight, that it just might happen, presented to Beth a ray of hope that was to prove sufficient to lead her out of this dark hole that she'd hidden herself away in for a third of her life.
The day that Beth was discharged from 'Salford Royal Hospital', the hospital Social Worker, Megan drove her to the drying out hostel where Beth would reside for the next six months.
"But........ you know I've not had a drink for months now, ever since the day of my traffic accident," Beth remarked. She sat herself down on the floor in the corner of the room as if to sulk. Her Social Worker seemed to be doubting her ability to break her alcoholic addiction.
"Don't be kidded by those incidental details," Megan replied. "You are no less of an alcohol addict today than you were when they brought you into hospital after getting run down by the lorry. The fact that you've been bed-bound and immobilised for that entire period were the only things stopping you walking off the ward, signing yourself out and visiting the first pub you passed, so don't be fooled."
Beth agreed. She had not dared considered the prospect of ever seeing her daughter again ever since she'd developed an addiction to the drink and although she wouldn't allow herself the faintest belief that such would ever happen, the mere chance, however slight, that it just might happen, presented to Beth a ray of hope that was to prove sufficient to lead her out of this dark hole that she'd hidden herself away in for a third of her life.
The day that Beth was discharged from 'Salford Royal Hospital', the hospital Social Worker, Megan drove her to the drying out hostel where Beth would reside for the next six months.
