Helping a mother get closure was a very special moment in my career | Ian Hart

One of the most frequent questions I’m asked about my full-time occupation is about the level of job satisfaction I get.
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After more than 30 years, I still enjoy my work as much as on my first day at Dillistone’s back in 1987.

I’ve always found my work extremely rewarding because of being able to help people through difficult and challenging times.

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On occasions, the level of satisfaction goes that little bit higher and this last week was one such time.

Ian HartIan Hart
Ian Hart

At the end of the week before last I was contacted by the daughter of a lady who I’ve looked after a number of times over the last 20-odd years.

She told me that, 47 years ago in late 1973, her mother had given birth to a little girl at Zachary Merton, who was sadly stillborn.

Back then there were different procedures and the little girl, named Lisa, was apparently taken away and nothing more was said.

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The lady went on to have two very healthy children, seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. While she and her husband, who sadly died nearly 20 years ago, never forgot Lisa, it was something that was too upsetting to discuss.

Her daughter wondered if there was any way I could find out what had happened to baby Lisa. With the information supplied and the help of Tiffany at Worthing Borough Council, we found that Lisa had been privately buried in Durrington Cemetery in January 1974, and identified the location of her grave.

Last Saturday I took the lady and her daughter to the cemetery, where we had marked Lisa’s grave, and they placed flowers. It was a very special moment in my career, seeing the closure that it gave Lisa’s mother.

It also got me thinking about how many other people there may be in the town in a similar situation. If there are, I am more than happy to help families in getting the relevant information so please contact me at my office on 01903 206299.

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