Berwick arthritis sufferer helping others

Posted by The Journal on Nov 4, 09 01:00 PM in Clubs/Societies

A fisherman who suffers from arthritis is helping others to cope with the condition.

Robin Crawford spent 40 years fishing in the North Sea.

But the physically demanding work left him in agony with arthritis, and he is now confined to a wheelchair. Now the pensioner from Berwick has found a new lease of life through a community befriending scheme run by St John Ambulance.

He took up a computer course and curling, and now he is leading his own craft class for other arthritis sufferers in a bid to encourage them to carry on using their hands. The activities he teaches are based on the rope skills he developed as a fisherman.

He said: "Among us were men who had worked on the light ships, and in that job they had a lot of time on their hands because as long as the light was clean and working there wasn't much to do.

"They could make beautiful things with rope and twine, intricate bell pulls and so on, and I encouraged them to teach me how to do it.

"Of course I also spent a lot of time fixing nets and splicing ropes and I became pretty adept at rope work."

Robin says the St John Ambulance day centre has helped to turn his life around.

He said: "For many years I sat at home depressed, it gave me back my life. A lot of the people who come here have trouble with their hands. These crafts are encouraging them to use their hands to be creative."

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