21 KEN DUCKWORTH summary

DVCPro Tape 01 of 04 – VHS Tape 01 of 01                                  01.00.05 - 01.29.57
 
Birth and early life
Born Sri Lanka 1937.  Not very good at school, more interested in cricket.  Worked as a tea-taster on leaving school.  Moved to England in 1958 because of political troubles in Sri Lanka. In England worked as clerk in civil service.
 
Start of mental health problems
K started having mental health problems after being promoted at work; was put on medication  
 
Marriage
Married a Sri Lankan girl.  Returned with wife and baby to Sri Lanka but wife died.  K returned to England with daughter.  Eight years later married for the second time.
 
Second episode of mental health problems
Mental health problems recurred after K promoted for second time at work.  Admitted to St Bernard’s, had ECT.  On discharge returned home and during argument with wife stabbed her.
 
Prison
Sent to prison for six years, Brixton, Wormwood Scrubs and Maidstone.  Found prison life very traumatic.  On release returned to live with mother but when she died was admitted to Napsbury where he stayed for 17 years.
 
Childhood in Sri Lanka
Very keen on cricket.  Had two brothers and a sister, and lived with them and parents in house near the sea.  Says he was spoilt by his parents who were very encouraging of his cricket.  Describes his house and the pets he kept as a child, and his interests of cricket, cinema and karam.  Spoke and had schooling in English.  Was very happy as a child.
 
First job
On leaving school got job as clerk in tea company, then later became tea taster.  Talks about political troubles in Colombo at the time and the effects of rationing and curfews on people there.  Describes how family decided to leave Sri Lanka and come to England.
 
Leaving Sri Lanka for England
Was excited about coming to England; ambitious to become a professional cricketer in England.  Describes preparations for leaving Sri Lanka and the boat journey to England.  Many other Sri Lankans were also coming to England at this time.
 
01.29.57 - 02.00.43
 
Settling in England
Family initially lived with Uncle who was already in England and then father, who was retired but relatively well off, bought his own house in Cricklewood.  Ken and his brothers and sisters all got good jobs in England.
 

Starting work in England
Got job as clerical officer through a cousin.  Was happy at work and was very good at figure work.  Got two promotions at work but, on both occasions, these led to mental health problems.
 
Cricket
Played club cricket in Harrow.  Brother also member of same club.
 
Reflections on leaving Sri Lanka
Had been very happy in Sri Lanka but had to leave because of politics.  Felt sad at leaving and worried about the people he was leaving behind.
 
Settling down in England
Describes getting job, playing club cricket, making friends.  Found English people very helpful.
 
Job and start of first breakdown
Describes his working life and how after a while he got promoted but then became very stressed.  Started taking sick leave from work.  Talks about his physical and emotional feelings and his overwhelming fear of dying.  GP prescribed medication, valium.
 
Breakdown
Thinks problem was his job.  Became very isolated in his bedroom.  Parents were very supportive. Talks about his fear of schizophrenia.  Saw both a doctor and psychiatrist about his problems.
 
Recovery
As got better returned to work, but was demoted on the recommendation of the psychiatrist.  Settled into work again well.  Talks of being teased about his mental health problems by a few colleagues but how he did not really  mind.
 
Marriage
Describes his first wife Doris,  how he met her and their wedding in Westminster Cathedral.  Was very happy and they had baby Michelle.  Still playing cricket.  Owned own house and was very happy.
 
Start of second breakdown
Later on was promoted again at work but this led to K having a second breakdown.
 
 
DVCPro Tape 02 of 04 – VHS Tape 01 0f 01                                  02.00.43 - 02.30.32
 
Second breakdown
Describes collapsing at work and then being diagnosed with a "breakdown".  After this was rejected by his (second) wife.
 
Death of first wife
Ken, his first wife Doris and daughter Michelle returned to Sri Lanka for a holiday, but Doris died while they were there.  Returned to England with Michelle and moved in with mother, who looked after Michelle.  Describes his mother and how much she has done for him, and how suicidal he felt when his mother died.   Talks about periods of severe depression in his life but how he is happier now.
 
Second marriage
Describes meeting and marrying second wife Gillian.  Had 2 children, but has not seen them now for 25 years.  Ken and Gillian moved into house in Harrow and Michelle, who was about ten, came to live with them.
 
Second promotion at work - return of mental health problems
When promoted for second time both Ken and Gillian excited about the promotion but then problems with stress returned for Ken.  Saw doctor, but wife could not cope with Ken's problems and suggested he go to St Bernard's.  Was scared but felt going to St Bernard's would be an escape from his wife's nagging.
 
St Bernards - diagnosis and treatment
Mother signed form to admit Ken and agree to ECT. Was diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenic.  Agreed to ECT because he thought it might do him good, but now feels it drove him insane.  Talks of ECT making him very depressed and how he could not eat. 
 
Life in St Bernard's
Ward was not locked. Had own room and felt he just wanted to be left alone.  Had serious  problems with sleeping.  Wife came to visit him once but mother came often.
 
ECT
Describes what happened on ECT days and the effect ECT had on him.  Felt like he was going to die after ECT.
 
02.30.32 - 03.00.37
 
Medication
Describes being on medication, how that might have been helpful but CT definitely was not.  Talks about side-effects of medication
 
Relationships with staff and other patients
Talks about finding consultant psychiatrist and one of night nurses very helpful.  Also describes patients he made friends with who had a similar story to him.  Feels he made some good friends.  Talks of the discos that were held in the hospital and gave patients opportunity to meet one another.
 
Discharge from St Bernard's
After a year in St Bernard's was discharged.  Now feels he should not have been discharged because he was still not well.  Describes how on the day he left St Bernard's he was seeing people on the ward holding crosses and shouting.
 
Return to home and argument with wife
Returned home unexpectedly to give wife a surprise.  Wife said she was leaving with her two children and wanted a divorce.  Resulted in an argument and Ken stabbed his wife.  Wife was taken to the hospital and Ken gave himself up to the police station.  Taken to Brixton Prison.  Wife recovered and came to see him in prison to tell him she was leaving him, which upset him greatly.  Talks about his feelings for his wife and his divorce from her.
 
Daughter Michelle
K's daughter Michelle lived with K's mother. K describes her as having a very traumatic life, but how it is going well now and he often visits her and her family.  Describes Michelle's husband and two children.
 
Prison
Describes his experience in Brixton Prison and how he was very scared.  Then went to Wormwood Scrubs, then Maidstone.  On release didn't want to go back to psychiatric hospital but admitted it was better than prison.
 
Trial
Talks about court trial and how his mental health problems were not taken into consideration and how frightened he was during trial. Was given six year sentence.
 
Wormwood Scrubs
Describes life in the prison and how many prisoners had mental health problems and some committed suicide.  Talks about daily routine, food and being forced to eat.
 
Reflecting on consequences of ECT
Talks about suffering because of the doctors at St Bernard's and ECT and its consequences.  Also about hearing voices and feeling people, including his boss, were trying to kill him. 
 
Relationship with boss
Describes his boss and how he blamed him for his breakdowns because he was the one who promoted him, but how he has now forgiven him. 
 
 
DVCPro Tape 03 of 04 – VHS Tape 01 of 01                                  03.00.37 - 03.30.24
 
Practising religious faith in Wormwood Scrubs
Saw Catholic priest very often and always attended services in chapel.  Describes his need for God's help for his problems and how he became more religious in prison.
 
Hospital Wing in Wormwood Scrubs
Talks of going on hunger strike because of problems with cellmates and then being moved to hospital wing.  Describes daily life in hospital wing, medication, art therapy, reading Bible.  Reflects again on how problems started after two marriages and two promotions.  Mentions not being able to sleep and his determination not to go back to mental hospital when he came out of prison.   On discharge from prison, moved in with mother.
 
Death of mother and brother.
Talks of brothers and sisters and how, when mother died, eldest brother told Ken to go back into hospital.  Ken felt brother didn't understand what Ken was going through and didn't see him for many years.  Last year brother died and Ken went to visit him and talks of forgiving him for sending Ken to Napsbury.
 
Napsbury Hospital
Mother knew Ken was not well and suggested he go to Napsbury.  K thought he would just be in for a while but ended up there for seventeen years.  Found it a misery and a torment.  Used to go home on weekend leave to mother's house.
Silver Birch (admission) ward
On admission ward for six months. Diagnosed with schizophrenia.  Describes medication and depot injections and side effects he suffered.  Still hearing voices and describes two very serious panic attacks.  Felt he made matters worse by reading books on schizophrenia.
Other wards in Napsbury
K talks of moving from ward to ward within Napsbury until he was discharged to Leecroft House where he currently livers.
 
Typical day at Napsbury
Describes a typical day, including playing bingo and how he enjoyed that.
 
Visitors in Napsbury
Talks about how daughter visited two times a week, and how sister-in-law, nephews and nieces also visited but less frequently.   Describes problems with other patients during visits.
 
Meals
Talks about routine for meals, type of food served and how patients would sometimes send out for food.
 
Problems with staff and other patients
Generally got on well with other patients but there were a few staff and patients he had problems with.  Describes some incidents and how he used to walk away to avoid trouble.
 
 
03.30.24 - 04.01.00
 
Life in Napsbury
Talks of various aspects of hospital life, patients stealing from each other, no locks on .lockers and washing own clothes on ward.  Had very bad psoriasis because of stress, and received treatment for this while in Napsbury. Describes going out from open wards into local area, e.g. to post office, shops, take away shops.  Received money from benefits and pension and  controlled his own spending. 
 
Occupational therapy
Did art, drama and pottery.  Also used to go with other patients to watch staff cricket matches - patients not allowed to play because it was too dangerous.  Little physical exercise while in hospital, except for throwing a ball around.
 
Locked wards
Talks of nerve-racking atmosphere on the locked wards.  Describes his fear of not knowing what was going to happen, how two people died in his dormitory and made him think he might be the next one to die.  Talks of how voices tormented him to end it all and how he could not control voices. Was treated with Prozac but made the voices worse.
 
Problems with sleeping and dormitory
Talks of not being able to sleep at night and how he was hooked on medication to help him sleep. In dormitory had curtains between beds so some degree of privacy, but no locks on lockers so things sometimes got stolen.  When couldn't sleep would spend time in smoking room with friend Michael. Feels smoking helped him relax.  Bought cigarettes from hospital shop.
 
Social events  at Napsbury
Talks of monthly discos in hospital. Describes having an enjoyable time at Christmas, initially spent Christmas at Napsbury and then after a few years used to go to daughter Michelle for Christmas.   Also talks of the parties he used to pay for the other patients on his birthday and how he could afford it because he had been left money by his parents when they died.
 
Other patients
Got on well with people generally and made many friends, including lady friends in Napsbury.  Describes having one particular woman friend but how it was not serious.  Talks of three suicides, which happened while he was in hospital.
 
Trips out from Napsbury
Describes going on day trips to France with other patients on three occasions.  Also going to Wembly for ice shows.
 
Discharging himself from Napsbury
Initially thought he would be in Napsbury for year or two.  Was then told he could discharge himself but it would be against medical advice.  Did discharge himself three times but could not cope so had to come back to hospital each time.
 
Mothers death
Felt mothers death was the last straw and blamed himself for making her life very difficult.
 
 
DVCPro Tape 04 of 04 – VHS Tape 01 of 01                                  04.01.00 - 04.30.57
 
Time out from hospital
Talks about periods away from hospital, three times when he discharged himself, weekends when he went home to his mothers.
 
Visit to Australia
Ken saved money and talks about getting permission from doctors to visit sister and brother in Australia for six months.  Describes what he did there and how he had a very enjoyable time with younger brother for six months.  Remained well in Australia but on return found it hard to return to hospital.
 
Other ethnic minority patients in Napsbury
Talks about there being patients from various minority ethnic groups in Napsbury, but only one from Sri Lanka.  Did not feel he was treated differently because of his ethnic background.
 
Practising religion faith in Napsbury
Describes seeing Catholic priest daily, reading bible and going to chapel regularly.  Found chapel peaceful. Found library another peaceful place to spend time, read mostly sports books. Talks about hopes of going to Lourdes to give thanks for getting through his life.
 
Thoughts of dying
Talks of fear of dying from schizophrenia but not so prevalent now.  Still hears voices sometimes and is still on medication.  Talks of ECT being responsible for his illness and all its consequences, and how he feel ECT should be stopped.
Life in the community
Feels much better now he is out of hospital.  Talks of how he goes out, to shops, restaurant, pub.  Does not drink but does smoke.
 
Reflecting on seventeen years experience in Napsbury
Felt very unhappy at being labelled mentally ill and did not like being in mental hospital.  Talks of two nurses he had particular problems with.
 
Discharge and moving to Leecroft House
Describes how he got discharged and how he felt it was the start of living again and a chance to find happiness with his daughter and her family.  Lost feeling that he was going to die.  Describes coming to Leecroft House and his life there.  Says thee was about 2-3 years between the decision to discharge him and him actually leaving the hospital.  Preparations to leave hospital included becoming more active in his occupational therapy, learning to cook and shop.  Also talks about going to Hackney dogs and losing his money on the dogs. Social worker arranged move to Leecroft.
 
Leaving Napsbury
Felt sad at leaving some people, and describes one woman who was particularly kind to him.  Generally felt patients within Napsbury needed help; there were only a few who ever caused any trouble.
 
                        04.30.57 - 04.43.00
 
Leaving Napsbury
Describes how he gradually moved into Leecroft House.  Has been there three and a half years now and is determined not to go back into hospital now.  Happy at Leecroft.
 
Life at Leecroft House
Describes life in Leecroft, how food is provided, how he does his own washing and ironing, hoovering, polishing furniture and keeping his room clean and tidy.  Has his own bedroom.  Goes out every day.
 
Current contact with mental health services
Sees GP and nurse for injection and district nurse for treatment for psoriasis.  Has a key worker who he likes and who has recently had a baby.
 
Reflections on own family
Talks about desperately missing son and daughter from second marriage but realises its best if he doesn't see them again.  Talks excitedly of Michelle's wedding.  Describes going to daughter Michelle's house the previous day and feeling very happy.  Will do whatever he can for Michelle and recently bought her a car.
 
Dreams for the future
Would like to live in a big mansion and provide his daughter and children with whatever they wanted.  Talks of winning the lottery but basically just wants to be content.  Is happy to be out of mental hospital and says he would rather be dead than go back there again.  Feels quite content at Leecroft.
 

Thoughts on Testimony  interview
Had been very nervous before interview but had enjoyed it and was happy that we had come to record his testimony.
 
End of DVCPro Tape 04 of 04 – End of VHS Tape 01 of 01
 
INTERVIEW ENDS