0:00:09 > 0:00:13Southend-on-Sea in Essex was originally the south end
0:00:13 > 0:00:15of a small town called Prittlewell.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19It's now home to the world's longest pier.
0:00:21 > 0:00:26With 170,000 residents, Southend is one of the UK's most
0:00:26 > 0:00:29densely populated areas outside of London
0:00:29 > 0:00:33with almost a third of locals aged over 55.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40It's also home to TV favourite Dominic Littlewood
0:00:40 > 0:00:41who remembers it well.
0:00:41 > 0:00:45The main thing about Southend is the fact that it's got an amazing beach.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48From Shoebury right up to old Leigh-on-Sea,
0:00:48 > 0:00:51it's an area, which as a kid, it was great growing up in.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53You've got the arcade, which of course,
0:00:53 > 0:00:55when you're young, you used to love going down there.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58I was one of those kids who got out and had good fun around here
0:00:58 > 0:01:00and nearly all my memories, I say nearly,
0:01:00 > 0:01:03nearly all of them were pretty good.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05This is the street that you were brought up on.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07When was the last time you were here?
0:01:07 > 0:01:0940 years ago.
0:01:09 > 0:01:11The street looks very similar.
0:01:11 > 0:01:13That's the house I was born in.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15Was there a sense of community? I suppose there was.
0:01:15 > 0:01:17Oh, yeah, without a doubt. Big, big sense of community.
0:01:17 > 0:01:18My parents lived there.
0:01:18 > 0:01:22There was Pat and Bernard Lovell who lived next door and there was
0:01:22 > 0:01:25a lady up there who became my mum's best friend called Margaret Di.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27In Keith Way, the next road along, there was a lady there.
0:01:27 > 0:01:29She had two gorgeous daughters.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32I'd love to bump into them again, but I doubt they're there.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35What I find amazing on this journey is the fact
0:01:35 > 0:01:37that a lot of people don't really know
0:01:37 > 0:01:40what goes on ten doors away, really.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43They kind of know the person next to them, so the idea of being...
0:01:43 > 0:01:46What I want to do is bring this sort of community spirit
0:01:46 > 0:01:48together like it was when you used to live here.
0:01:48 > 0:01:49So, I want you to knock on a few doors
0:01:49 > 0:01:51and it'll be surprising for you and interesting,
0:01:51 > 0:01:54and then we'll meet up later and bring all those people together
0:01:54 > 0:01:56and then you kind of see what happens.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59- Yeah, I'm looking forward to this. - And... Yeah?- Yeah, definitely.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01- Good. I'll see you later.- Right.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08Mind you, knowing the kind of little rogue that Dom was
0:02:08 > 0:02:10when he lived here, I won't be surprised
0:02:10 > 0:02:13if everyone's locked their doors and hid behind the curtains.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17Did they hear I was coming?
0:02:17 > 0:02:20Dom's not having much luck, but finally perseverance pays off.
0:02:20 > 0:02:24- Afternoon.- Hello, Dom. How are you? - You recognise me, do you?
0:02:24 > 0:02:27- Yeah, I did. Yeah, yeah. - I'm Jessie and that's Annette.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30Come closer. I have had a shower this morning.
0:02:31 > 0:02:33- Hello there, lovely.- Hello. - You've got a smashing smile.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36I'm not after your money. I was going to shake your hand.
0:02:36 > 0:02:38She was going to give me money.
0:02:38 > 0:02:41- I just remember playing with you. - Really?- Yeah.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43- Oh, cool.- Dominic.- Yes.
0:02:43 > 0:02:45Yeah, yeah... We were little.
0:02:45 > 0:02:47Well, I like the area.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50It's nice and quiet and peaceful and I like the position, you know?
0:02:50 > 0:02:52How long have you lived here for?
0:02:52 > 0:02:58My dad bought the house in 1936, I think it was. And I came here then.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01- You've been here 55, 56 years.- 1950.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04- I'm doing a sort of get-together this afternoon...- Yeah, yeah.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07- I'm looking forward to seeing you later.- OK.- Cheerio, ladies.
0:03:07 > 0:03:09- Do you know celebrity chef James Martin?- Yes.
0:03:09 > 0:03:11- He's going to be there.- Oh, is he?
0:03:11 > 0:03:12Oh, I'll go and have a sandwich, then.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15- All right, all the best. - All right, five...five o'clock.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17- See you later on. Cheers. Cheers, mate.- OK, cheers. Bye. Bye.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20The plan is to invite the neighbours to get to know each other
0:03:20 > 0:03:23a little better over a cuppa and a cake.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26But we'll also invite charities and organisations along
0:03:26 > 0:03:29who are active in bringing communities together.
0:03:29 > 0:03:31- Hopefully, I'll see you later on, yeah?- Thank you.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33- Cheerio, bye-bye. - Thank you, bye-bye.
0:03:33 > 0:03:37Dom really wants one of his old family friends to be there.
0:03:37 > 0:03:39- Hello!- Hello.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42Margaret! Hello, can I come in? Is that all right?
0:03:42 > 0:03:46- Hello, lovely. How are you?- Oh, I'm fine. How are you?- Oh, great.
0:03:46 > 0:03:50- You're still smiling as you always did.- Yes.- You've always had that...
0:03:50 > 0:03:52Dom's known Margaret since he was a boy.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55She was one of Dom's mum's best friends,
0:03:55 > 0:03:57but recently she's sadly lost her husband.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02- And how's things in general? - You still grieve, you know?
0:04:02 > 0:04:04It comes out later. That's the trouble.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07Do you still keep in contact with much of the neighbours?
0:04:07 > 0:04:10Yes, all the ones that are nearby,
0:04:10 > 0:04:12but they all go to work during the day.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14Do you get a little bit lonely?
0:04:14 > 0:04:17Oh, all the time. Lonely.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19And what do you do when you get lonely?
0:04:19 > 0:04:22- I watch a lot of television.- Right.
0:04:22 > 0:04:26And I read and I keep going.
0:04:26 > 0:04:28You've obviously got a lot of support around you,
0:04:28 > 0:04:30people who know you and love you
0:04:30 > 0:04:32because you've been here for so long.
0:04:32 > 0:04:36- If that wasn't there, how would you feel right...- I'd be lost.
0:04:36 > 0:04:40- Yeah.- I'd be lost. I would definitely move then.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42And then you move, you've got to start fresh, haven't you?
0:04:42 > 0:04:44Start fresh, yeah.
0:04:44 > 0:04:48I would have to. I couldn't manage without the support
0:04:48 > 0:04:50that I get from my neighbours.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54- It's lovely to see you.- God bless you.- Cheers, Margaret.- Cheers. Bye.
0:04:54 > 0:04:55Take care, lovely. Bye-bye.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02Margaret's lucky to have her family and good neighbours around her,
0:05:02 > 0:05:06but isolation is a massive problem for thousands of people
0:05:06 > 0:05:08across the UK,
0:05:08 > 0:05:12and it can be caused by all sorts of circumstances.
0:05:12 > 0:05:17And recent studies suggest older man are particularly vulnerable
0:05:17 > 0:05:20and least likely, of course, to talk about it.
0:05:26 > 0:05:31Stan was married to Vicky for 65 years.
0:05:31 > 0:05:33She was his lifelong love,
0:05:33 > 0:05:35but when she died 11 months ago,
0:05:35 > 0:05:37Stan was left only with his memories.
0:05:42 > 0:05:46He used to be active, a keen runner competing in competitions
0:05:46 > 0:05:48and training other athletes.
0:05:48 > 0:05:52Despite running well in to his 70s, since losing Vicky,
0:05:52 > 0:05:55Stan's lost the will to continue his activities.
0:05:59 > 0:06:03Suddenly, I went from looking after her for nearly ten years
0:06:03 > 0:06:09to suddenly having no-one to look after except myself,
0:06:09 > 0:06:12which, you know, is no joy to me.
0:06:13 > 0:06:18What I'm doing indoors now is just watching the clock.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21It's a case of, you know, in another hour,
0:06:21 > 0:06:25I'm going to have another coffee, and things like that.
0:06:27 > 0:06:31So very recently, I sat here for three days out in the garden
0:06:31 > 0:06:32and I didn't do anything.
0:06:32 > 0:06:36There was plenty of things I should've been doing and I didn't.
0:06:39 > 0:06:44It's just a black hole. I feel empty all the time.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47I feel like a shell of my former self.
0:06:47 > 0:06:51I can't visualise that I'm going to come out of it.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54Where do I go?
0:06:54 > 0:06:57For all these years I've been going somewhere with Vicky
0:06:57 > 0:06:59and sitting there with her...
0:07:00 > 0:07:06..in restaurants or to have a bit of grub out or something like that.
0:07:06 > 0:07:10And now I go in and I sit down and I look round and I think,
0:07:10 > 0:07:13"Everybody's in pairs or threes or fours."
0:07:13 > 0:07:16There's very few people sitting on their own.
0:07:16 > 0:07:20You know, it's not enjoyable. It's not a case of treat yourself.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23It's a case of wasting time.
0:07:25 > 0:07:30She was...just about the most perfect wife I could've ever had.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33She really was. She was kindness itself.
0:07:34 > 0:07:37At the age of 74, Vicky developed dementia
0:07:37 > 0:07:41and Stan became her full-time carer for the next ten years.
0:07:42 > 0:07:46After such a long time, it became too difficult for Stan
0:07:46 > 0:07:50to handle on his own and Vicky was moved to a care home.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53Vicky passed away in January 2014,
0:07:53 > 0:07:57after spending just less than a year in the home.
0:07:58 > 0:08:03I stayed with her until she passed away, actually. I never left her.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06I stayed in the home, I didn't come home at all.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09After Vicky's death,
0:08:09 > 0:08:12Stan couldn't connect to any part of his previous life.
0:08:14 > 0:08:18Even the house is a shell. I mean, it's always been a home.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21I just had nothing in me and to be truthful,
0:08:21 > 0:08:24and I am being very truthful about this,
0:08:24 > 0:08:26if I could have gone along with Vicky, I...
0:08:26 > 0:08:29That would have been wonderful for me.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32And it would have solved all my problems.
0:08:35 > 0:08:40Life seems largely pointless, you know? It does for me now.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48Having been speaking to Stan, it's kind of heartbreaking
0:08:48 > 0:08:50that he feels that there's nothing to live for,
0:08:50 > 0:08:53not least because he's such a great guy
0:08:53 > 0:08:57and others can benefit so much from what he has to offer.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59And I hope that he comes to the event later
0:08:59 > 0:09:01and I really hope that I can introduce him
0:09:01 > 0:09:04to someone who'll give him a little bit of his spark back.
0:09:07 > 0:09:09I'm convinced that for Stan
0:09:09 > 0:09:12his athletic past could be the secret
0:09:12 > 0:09:15to unlocking a better future for him.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17All over the country, people join walking groups.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27Not just for exercise, but company, and here in Southend
0:09:27 > 0:09:30there's a particular group designed to put the spring
0:09:30 > 0:09:31back into people's steps.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37Simply Stride is all about walking sessions for people
0:09:37 > 0:09:39from all different kinds of backgrounds
0:09:39 > 0:09:42and very important for confidence-building for those people
0:09:42 > 0:09:45that either physically have been impaired in some way
0:09:45 > 0:09:48or for those that, you know, really emotionally
0:09:48 > 0:09:51they need to improve themselves, the way that they feel.
0:09:51 > 0:09:55Confidence really underpins everything that you do.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58You know, it can stop you from going out the front door.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01It can stop you from, you know, just doing your daily activities.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03You know, going to the shops and buying a newspaper,
0:10:03 > 0:10:06a loaf of bread can be such a huge hurdle.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09- Now, I've met an amazing bloke today.- OK.
0:10:09 > 0:10:13And 65 years of marriage.
0:10:13 > 0:10:17His wife then suffered from dementia. He was then the carer.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20I think something like your organisation
0:10:20 > 0:10:21may be able to help him.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24I think having that time in his diary each week to know
0:10:24 > 0:10:27that he's coming out and meeting that group of people
0:10:27 > 0:10:29will empower him and make him feel more confidence.
0:10:29 > 0:10:34And the whole social aspect of it is great as you're walking along.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37Not only are you making that hour the best fitness time for yourself,
0:10:37 > 0:10:41health and fitness, but you're also having a great social situation.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44Having a laugh, having great rapport with everybody
0:10:44 > 0:10:46and we all love chatting as well, all of our coaches do.
0:10:46 > 0:10:48You can see, as well, going from this
0:10:48 > 0:10:51very slowly and gradually as he evolves and progresses
0:10:51 > 0:10:53and gets more confident in becoming so much more for him.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55So, yeah, just from this walking group.
0:11:02 > 0:11:06And for Dom, there's one door he can't resist knocking on -
0:11:06 > 0:11:08his old family home.
0:11:08 > 0:11:12This is going to be a trip down memory lane for me.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14It hasn't changed much, I can tell you that.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23- Hello.- Hello. Are you the house owner?
0:11:23 > 0:11:25- I am.- What's your name?- Jan.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27- Jan, I'm Dominic Littlewood. - Hello.- Hello there.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30Sorry to knock on your door with a film crew behind here,
0:11:30 > 0:11:31but I was born in this house.
0:11:31 > 0:11:33Yes, I heard that.
0:11:33 > 0:11:35Can I be really nosy and come in and have a look around?
0:11:35 > 0:11:38- Yes!- Is it all right?- You can, yeah. - Thanks ever so much.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41This is really amazing for me.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44- I remember so much of this as well. - Yeah, come in.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47We used to have chores and I used to have to sweep these stairs.
0:11:47 > 0:11:48- Did you?- Yeah.
0:11:50 > 0:11:52- Right.- Wow!
0:11:54 > 0:11:56I remember this very well.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58That's where I...that's where I came into this world.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01- Really?- Right there.- Oh!- Yeah.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04I won't feel the same again sleeping in here, will I?
0:12:07 > 0:12:09- Jan, been a pleasure. - Yes, been lovely to meet you.
0:12:09 > 0:12:11- See you later on, yeah? - Yeah, yes, see you later.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14- Cheerio. Bye-bye.- Bye.
0:12:14 > 0:12:19Going to knock on Pat and Bernard Lovell's house now. I lived here.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21They were the neighbours that lived closest to us really
0:12:21 > 0:12:23and very good friends of my mum and dad.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26And I'm slightly apprehensive about this because,
0:12:26 > 0:12:27it wouldn't surprise me if they say,
0:12:27 > 0:12:30"Hang on, you were a right, little tearaway."
0:12:30 > 0:12:31Well, I know I was a tearaway,
0:12:31 > 0:12:34but what they remember of me, it's got me a little bit worried.
0:12:37 > 0:12:41- Hello.- Dominic.- Hello. Do you know, Pat... Come here.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44- You look almost exactly how I remember you.- Really?- Yeah.
0:12:44 > 0:12:46- It's a long time, Dominic. - It's 40-odd years.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48How you doing? Hello, Bernard.
0:12:48 > 0:12:50- Hello.- Hello. How you doing?- Very well, thank you.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53I tell you what, I always remember you being a big, strong man.
0:12:53 > 0:12:55You still have hands like shovels, haven't you?
0:12:55 > 0:12:58Do you feel the community has changed a lot over the years?
0:12:58 > 0:13:01- Yes, definitely, it has. - I think it's changed enormously.
0:13:01 > 0:13:02For the better or worse?
0:13:02 > 0:13:05Well, it's for the worst because we don't know many
0:13:05 > 0:13:07people down here at all now whereas we used to know a lot.
0:13:07 > 0:13:11People are working and moving on.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13Well, I'll tell you what you might be interested in.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16I'm putting together this little meeting just down the road.
0:13:16 > 0:13:18I'm going to try to put people together again.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20You know, put the community spirit back together.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25- Pat, it's been so nice catching up, and you, Bernard.- And you, Dominic.
0:13:25 > 0:13:27- I'll see you about four o'clock, yeah? BOTH:- Yes.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29- Thank you very much, Dominic. - Thanks a lot.
0:13:29 > 0:13:31Cheers, guys. ALL: Bye-bye.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34It was lovely meeting Pat and Bernard again.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37I mean, they are in their 80s now and there were so many memories
0:13:37 > 0:13:40that just came flooding back and they've hardly changed at all.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44Pat and Bernard may have noticed that their community
0:13:44 > 0:13:47is not as open or as friendly as it once was.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50But on my travels, I've got the sense that community spirit
0:13:50 > 0:13:54is actually still around. It just needs a bit of a push sometimes.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59Community, of course, is a great word
0:13:59 > 0:14:01and wonderful when you feel a part of it.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04For some, it's the isolation from the community
0:14:04 > 0:14:08that can cause immense loneliness, lack of confidence, and depression.
0:14:14 > 0:14:15You were brought up, what, about half,
0:14:15 > 0:14:17three quarters of a mile away from here?
0:14:17 > 0:14:22'Keith was once married, had a great job and his own home.
0:14:22 > 0:14:24'One by one he lost them all
0:14:24 > 0:14:27'and now finds himself on the fringes of society.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32'Jobless, alone and living in a temporary hostel,
0:14:32 > 0:14:35'for Keith, community feels like a distant memory.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40'Now his world is a very small place.'
0:14:42 > 0:14:46- Sold the house, sold the car, sold all of your possessions.- Yeah.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49Cos looking in here, the only thing you seem to have...
0:14:49 > 0:14:51- not sold is the guitar.- Yeah.
0:14:51 > 0:14:55That's right. Yeah, that's exactly right, yeah.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58Yeah, that's all I've got is my guitar.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00So, tell me about this guitar, then.
0:15:00 > 0:15:04Erm, well, there's a story to that.
0:15:04 > 0:15:09Mum left me a little bit of money and I went out and bought that.
0:15:09 > 0:15:13So, it reminds me of Mum, really, in a way.
0:15:13 > 0:15:17Yeah, yeah, I went and got that three days after...
0:15:17 > 0:15:19You know, about three weeks after Mum died.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23It's one of the only few possessions...
0:15:23 > 0:15:26Well, it is the only few possessions I've got.
0:15:26 > 0:15:28So, tell me about the loneliness for you.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31Withdrawing.
0:15:31 > 0:15:36Time. Sometimes the days...
0:15:36 > 0:15:39the days all are...
0:15:39 > 0:15:42the days are all the same cos if you decide to go for a walk,
0:15:42 > 0:15:43you're on your own.
0:15:44 > 0:15:49And you often wonder how you can be so alone.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54No, it's not good to have every day...
0:15:56 > 0:15:58..every day the same, really.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00And nothing...
0:16:01 > 0:16:05..nothing really on the horizon to sort of lighten the load.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11You're in a rut where you haven't got the confidence.
0:16:13 > 0:16:17There's not going to be no miracle cure. If I could get just halfway...
0:16:17 > 0:16:21halfway there, a sort of, a little job
0:16:21 > 0:16:23and a little of meeting people
0:16:23 > 0:16:26and a little bit of...respect.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28Self-respect, I think.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30So, do you find that it comes sort of hand-in-hand
0:16:30 > 0:16:34- with loneliness, that kind of thing? - Yeah. Loneliness and confidence.
0:16:34 > 0:16:36And then, of course, you're not motivated because...
0:16:36 > 0:16:38Yeah, yeah, yeah.
0:16:38 > 0:16:43- You've got more time to think. - Yeah, yeah... Yeah, that's the one.
0:16:43 > 0:16:45Sometimes I think far too much.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52I can see the spiral that Keith is in.
0:16:52 > 0:16:53His lack of self-worth
0:16:53 > 0:16:57means he just doesn't have the confidence to engage with others,
0:16:57 > 0:17:00and the lack of people wanting to talk to him makes him even less
0:17:00 > 0:17:03likely to spark up a conversation.
0:17:03 > 0:17:05It's as if he's invisible.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12Keith desperately needs to get back into society
0:17:12 > 0:17:16and it seems he does hang on to a glimmer of hope.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20I just recently enjoyed for the first time...
0:17:20 > 0:17:23I know money is a bit short, but I tend to save up.
0:17:23 > 0:17:28I go every three matches and I think I go just for the company, actually.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31I go to Southend United Football Club.
0:17:31 > 0:17:35And I sit there and I'm with a big crowd and you are all...
0:17:35 > 0:17:37HE SHOUTS ..and you're letting off steam.
0:17:37 > 0:17:41And I go alone, but I come out of there and you're all...
0:17:41 > 0:17:43You are waved along with the crowd
0:17:43 > 0:17:46and I think it's a sort of feeling of I'm part of something.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57Being part of something isn't too much to ask
0:17:57 > 0:18:01and I'm convinced it's possible to open a few doors for Keith.
0:18:07 > 0:18:11It seems to me the answer for Keith could lie in his love of football
0:18:11 > 0:18:12and his passion for music.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18The perfect excuse for a trip to the local.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28- Hi there, Dave.- Hi, James. - You're Faith?- Yes, I am.
0:18:28 > 0:18:29Nice to meet you. James.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32- Now, what an amazing place you've got here.- Thank you.- Cheers.
0:18:32 > 0:18:36So, tell me about this open mic thing, then.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38What's...what's the idea of it?
0:18:38 > 0:18:40Erm, it's just... Well, just as open mics are.
0:18:40 > 0:18:44Just a complete open platform for anybody who's got something
0:18:44 > 0:18:47to say basically. Just got something to offer.
0:18:47 > 0:18:52Now, I've met... I met somebody this morning that I found fascinating.
0:18:52 > 0:18:56A gentleman that's 60 years old and through no fault of his own,
0:18:56 > 0:18:58and let's face it, could happen to anybody,
0:18:58 > 0:19:02he's found himself in a situation which he's ended up homeless.
0:19:02 > 0:19:06The only thing that he hasn't sold throughout his entire life
0:19:06 > 0:19:08is his guitar.
0:19:08 > 0:19:10I think by bringing him here
0:19:10 > 0:19:13and meeting like-minded people like yourself who are passionate
0:19:13 > 0:19:17about music maybe would start to open him up a little bit.
0:19:17 > 0:19:19- Would you be open to that? - Definitely, yeah.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21- Totally we would, yeah. - The other part of it is
0:19:21 > 0:19:24if he did something like an open mic session...
0:19:24 > 0:19:25One thing, you know,
0:19:25 > 0:19:27the whole thing is about confidence-building thing too.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30- Meeting people and just, yeah. - Yeah.- Get him back into society.
0:19:30 > 0:19:32Wouldn't want to put him in a situation where he felt
0:19:32 > 0:19:35uncomfortable and it could be quite a cut-throat thing.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38It's not like that here at all, is it? It's a very nice welcoming crowd.
0:19:38 > 0:19:40It's not. Yeah. We're very lucky with the crowd.
0:19:40 > 0:19:42They're very welcoming and encouraging.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45It's great to know that this place is on his doorstep as well, so...
0:19:45 > 0:19:46- Yeah.- I shall speak to him
0:19:46 > 0:19:48- and definitely bring him in. - Yeah, totally.
0:19:48 > 0:19:50- Good, it'd be nice to meet him. - Good.
0:19:53 > 0:19:55Now, I'm no musician, but what an amazing place that is
0:19:55 > 0:19:59and I think Keith's going to love something like this,
0:19:59 > 0:20:00and these two...
0:20:00 > 0:20:02are definitely going to look after him.
0:20:10 > 0:20:11It's time for the get-together
0:20:11 > 0:20:13and Dom has done a wonderful job
0:20:13 > 0:20:16revving up a great sense of community,
0:20:16 > 0:20:19bringing people from all corners of this neighbourhood together.
0:20:21 > 0:20:23White with one.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25I think this is going to be a very,
0:20:25 > 0:20:27very successful afternoon of tea-drinking
0:20:27 > 0:20:28and cake-eating cos everywhere I look now
0:20:28 > 0:20:31there's a lot of these eyes looking at me and smiling
0:20:31 > 0:20:34and I think just about everybody I spoke to has turned up
0:20:34 > 0:20:37and a lot more! And these things, you never know how well
0:20:37 > 0:20:40they are going to go, but I tell you what - right now it is packed out!
0:20:40 > 0:20:43And I think a lot of friendships are probably are going to be made.
0:20:43 > 0:20:45You know, I think it's going to be a real success.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49It's great to see so many of the neighbours have turned up,
0:20:49 > 0:20:51and I'm especially pleased
0:20:51 > 0:20:53that Keith's made the effort to come along
0:20:53 > 0:20:56because I've got something that I want to give him.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03And look who else has come along. It's lovely to see Stan
0:21:03 > 0:21:05and I'm really excited about introducing him
0:21:05 > 0:21:08to Karen, who runs the local walking group.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10Karen? This is Stan.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13- Hello, Stan. - Hello, Karen.- Lovely to meet you.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15- Have a seat.- Heard all about you.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18Now, this is somebody that I wanted you to meet because...
0:21:18 > 0:21:20- Well, you can explain what you do. - OK.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23Yeah, so we have walking groups and it's very sociable.
0:21:23 > 0:21:24Just get you moving really well.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27- Yes.- Which I understand is something you do really well...
0:21:27 > 0:21:28I don't think that's his problem
0:21:28 > 0:21:31because I've seen all the trophies that you won as well.
0:21:31 > 0:21:33What were you still doing, six-minute miles
0:21:33 > 0:21:34or something like that?
0:21:34 > 0:21:36Yeah, that was my best time. 6.2-minute mile.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39It's a long time since I've done anything. Obviously.
0:21:39 > 0:21:40What were you looking forward to...
0:21:40 > 0:21:42What are you looking forward to in the session?
0:21:42 > 0:21:45Really, I'm looking forward to meeting new people.
0:21:45 > 0:21:47That's the bottom line.
0:21:47 > 0:21:51- People that live around me and... - Definitely.- I don't know.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53Well, I'm going to leave you to chat and while...
0:21:53 > 0:21:56while you're chatting, I know you are a fitness fanatic,
0:21:56 > 0:21:58- but I'm a chef.- It's all a balance, definitely.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00HE LAUGHS
0:22:00 > 0:22:02I'm so glad you came.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05- Margaret? - Yes, darling.- This is Doreen.
0:22:05 > 0:22:07She lives in Byrne Drive.
0:22:07 > 0:22:09I've been there 46 years.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12Oh, I'm going to beat you cos my dad bought the house.
0:22:12 > 0:22:16- Trumped you. She's trumped you, Margaret.- I don't see you ever.
0:22:16 > 0:22:20- No.- So lovely.- Isn't it surprising? - Never met.
0:22:20 > 0:22:21No, never met one another.
0:22:23 > 0:22:25- So, how do you think it's gone today?- Look at it,
0:22:25 > 0:22:27- that's a success, isn't it? - It's great, isn't it?
0:22:27 > 0:22:30- The smile on your face, though, is just...- Do you know why?
0:22:30 > 0:22:32Everybody I met was jolly and yeah, but there's a lot of them
0:22:32 > 0:22:34that just needed to meet up with people
0:22:34 > 0:22:36that they hadn't spoke to for years.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38And in there, I mean, God...
0:22:38 > 0:22:40The conversation in there is non-stop, isn't it?
0:22:40 > 0:22:43But it's not costing any money, is it, that's the thing.
0:22:43 > 0:22:45It's a conversation and what I have found on this journey
0:22:45 > 0:22:50is that just a simple little conversation can change lives.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52Yeah, there's only good that can come out of this.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55There's no bad at all. You know, you've got people chatting,
0:22:55 > 0:22:58they are getting on. You know, listen to that. It's non-stop, isn't it?
0:22:58 > 0:23:01Well, that's all you're doing really and that topic of conversation
0:23:01 > 0:23:02is just a magical thing. So I'm...I'm...
0:23:02 > 0:23:05Well, I want to thank you for being a part of it as well.
0:23:05 > 0:23:07You know what? I'll tell you what, it's been a good day. Thank you.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09- I've really enjoyed it. - It's a pleasure.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11You know, it's been a trip down memory lane.
0:23:11 > 0:23:13'Dom's happy, and our guests are happy,
0:23:13 > 0:23:15'but one of them is about to get a whole lot happier.
0:23:15 > 0:23:17'I've got a surprise for Keith.'
0:23:17 > 0:23:20After the conversation that we had, I...
0:23:20 > 0:23:23- I thought how I could personally help.- Thank you.
0:23:23 > 0:23:25All right, now I've got you something
0:23:25 > 0:23:28- and I want you to take this from me. - Thank you very much.- All right?
0:23:28 > 0:23:32Now, obviously, winter is coming on, you're going to need a scarf.
0:23:32 > 0:23:34- Oh, man!- Well, you've got the football club over there.
0:23:34 > 0:23:38You've got your own beanie cap there,
0:23:38 > 0:23:41- but you got your own little wallet.- Cheers. Lovely.
0:23:41 > 0:23:46Now, in this wallet, and this is a personal thing from me,
0:23:46 > 0:23:48you've got your own season-ticket.
0:23:49 > 0:23:55- Your own seat...- Oh! - ..in the stand for every match.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57This season and next season.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59Oh, thank you, James.
0:23:59 > 0:24:01- It's in your name. - Thank you very, very much.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04- I think they've spelt it right. - Yeah, yeah.- All right?- Thank you.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07- Mate, it's a pleasure. It's there. - Cheers. Oh, that's unbelievable.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10It's a pleasure. In return for this,
0:24:10 > 0:24:13- I want you to do something for me. - Yep, yep.
0:24:13 > 0:24:17Take your guitar, go to this pub and play your heart out.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20- OK, I'll do that.- Deal? - Deal. It's a deal.- Good.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35The following week, Stan teamed up with the walking group
0:24:35 > 0:24:37for the first time.
0:24:37 > 0:24:40QUIET CHATTER
0:24:43 > 0:24:48Hiya, Stan. How are you? Are you all good? Lovely to see you.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51Everybody, I've just got somebody to introduce you to.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54- This is Stan and Ernie.- How do you do?- OK, Ernie, nice to meet you.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57- And there's Betty.- Hello, Betty.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00So, I think we're all ready to go and stride
0:25:00 > 0:25:02and start learning something new, so...
0:25:02 > 0:25:07- OK.- So, what's this then about your athletics, then?- Yeah.
0:25:07 > 0:25:12- What was your speciality? - Oh, well, sprinters originally.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15I coached sprinters all the time.
0:25:16 > 0:25:17Yeah, so what we're doing is
0:25:17 > 0:25:20as we are lengthening up through the spine,
0:25:20 > 0:25:24we are actually making space between our vertebrae...
0:25:24 > 0:25:28'This could motivate me for sure...'
0:25:28 > 0:25:32to get out a little bit more than I have done,
0:25:32 > 0:25:36just make me feel better, really, being with people,
0:25:36 > 0:25:39which is really what I've missed so much.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42'I've always been active in the past
0:25:42 > 0:25:47'and this hopefully will reintroduce all of that, you know?'
0:25:47 > 0:25:49I grow something that I've never done.
0:25:49 > 0:25:53I grew peanuts one year. Not enough to eat, they didn't...
0:25:53 > 0:25:55SHE LAUGHS
0:25:55 > 0:26:00It's really great to see Stan not only active, but also socialising.
0:26:01 > 0:26:05He's a lovely man and I really hope that even after the passing
0:26:05 > 0:26:07of his beloved wife Vicky
0:26:07 > 0:26:10that he can once again find happiness and contentment.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21- Good evening, Dave.- Hello, mate.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24It's the open-mic night at Keith's local
0:26:24 > 0:26:27and he's headed down there with his guitar in hand.
0:26:29 > 0:26:33# Don't you think it's kind of sad
0:26:36 > 0:26:38# The dreams of when I'm dying
0:26:42 > 0:26:44# Are the best I've ever had
0:26:46 > 0:26:48# It's a mad...
0:26:50 > 0:26:51# ..world
0:26:52 > 0:26:53# It's a mad...
0:26:56 > 0:26:57# ..world. #
0:27:00 > 0:27:03CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:27:03 > 0:27:04Thank you.
0:27:06 > 0:27:08Thank you very much.
0:27:08 > 0:27:10Made me feel more complete tonight.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13With that incentive, I know I can do it.
0:27:13 > 0:27:17It's just the first step and...
0:27:17 > 0:27:21You know, if I keep on doing it, it's going to become easier.
0:27:21 > 0:27:25And, so, it's lifted. Lifted is the word. It's lifted me out of the...
0:27:25 > 0:27:27out of the zone
0:27:27 > 0:27:31of feeling...of feeling, erm, pretty useless really,
0:27:31 > 0:27:35pretty... A burden to people.
0:27:35 > 0:27:40Erm, it's allowed me to think again that there is another way.
0:27:40 > 0:27:43Opened the door that there is another way, yeah.
0:27:57 > 0:27:59My trip to Southend has been an interesting one,
0:27:59 > 0:28:03but yet quite a difficult one because the issue of loneliness
0:28:03 > 0:28:07in men is actually rife throughout society. And let's face it,
0:28:07 > 0:28:10me, like most blokes, find it so difficult to talk about it.
0:28:10 > 0:28:12Did you have more than just a T-shirt on on that day
0:28:12 > 0:28:15- or did you just...?- Erm, yeah, we did. Yeah, we had...
0:28:15 > 0:28:19- We had bottoms and a top, yeah. - Good.- Yeah.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22And by just feeling included, it can make such a big difference.
0:28:22 > 0:28:26# Well, I'm here, baby
0:28:26 > 0:28:28# I give myself the blame. #