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V After Frank Yarrow’s wife Annette died four years ago, his life changed dramatically.
The couple had been inseparable for 65 years — “she was such a lovely caring person” — and her death left a huge void.
“I’d just sit in the flat on my own. I never saw anyone. No neighbours, nothing. Weeks could go by without a visitor.” His children live in America and Australia and the 89-year-old is no longer able to travel to see them.
Things were transformed once he began attending Jewish Care’s Redbridge centre and his story is the focus of the charity’s Rosh Hashanah appeal, which has a £200,000 target.
Mr Yarrow says that visiting the centre was “the highlight of my week. I play carpet bowls, I love singing — you should hear my Danny Boy — and I chat with my new friends. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without it.”
At home, he benefits from Jewish Care’s meals on wheels service. “It’s not as good as Annette’s cooking, of course. But it’s a lot better than I can do.” And he and Gerry, the volunteer who delivers it, have become “real friends”.
Now having benefited from Jewish Care’s support, Mr Yarrow is happy to be the face the appeal “as it will help others who are in a similar situation”.
Jewish Care’s Adam Overlander-Kaye said the the proceeds “will help us to continue to run services like our helpline and social work teams”.