I did not know, but I suspected it was not a happy story , and to
discuss individuals may not be not appropriate on a public forum.
But what may well be a topic for discussion is the number of staff
who became 'causalities' in the growth and development of the early
'Concept' TC 's.
If history is not to repeat itself we need to learn from the past. For
example in those early days a great deal of emphasis was put on
having 'ex-addict' staff sometimes I fear to the detriment of those
concerned.
Some of those individuals at that time were put in to positions of
great responsibility too early and well beyond their capacity. As we
all know the demands and stresses of running any TC are great, I
would like to believe that times have changed, and that now staff are
much more cared for and supported today, but from what I know of
current trends, things in some places, have not changed that much, in
other places they have, perhaps those still working in it can
reassure me on this.
What should be remembered however is that those early staff were very
much part of the growth and development of what is the therapeutic
community movement today, they are owed a debt, and should not be
forgotten about or written out of history because they may have
'messed up' in some way.
Personally I believe that that is the collective responsibility that
we all share.
Warmest wishes
Dave
On 15 Nov 2005, at 22:13, Anthony Slater wrote:
>
> Yes, but it’s not a happy story.
>
>
> From: Therapeutic Communities
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of David
> Warren-Holland
> Sent: 15 November 2005 22:58
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Part of history
>
>
>
> On 15 Nov 2005, at 13:57, Rowdy Yates wrote:
>
> There are a number of members on this EFTC list who are aware of the
> precious inheritance we are carrying forward and aware of its relative
> fragility - myself, Anthony, Eric, Salvatore, Martien, Dave to name
> but 6. In fact some of us are old enough to be a part of that history
> too.
>
> I agree Rowdy. Craig, your description of yourself as the 'passionate
> archivist' who shares that commitment is how I think of you. I have
> not had the time or the privilege to visit those archives in deepest
> Gloucester, but fully intend to. My guess is that there may well be
> records of part of that inheritance about addiction TC's in its
> 'vaults'
>
> By the way does anyone out there know what happened to some of the
> early TC Directors circa 1970's For example Brian Dempsey who started
> a TC at Emilehoeve Hospital in the Hague , and Brian Delaney who
> started Coolmine in Southern Ireland. Both originally from Phoenix
> House London.
>
> Warmest wishes
> Dave
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