THE
P RTAL
March 2012
Page 10
Here am I Lord
The Portal talks to Helen
Helen has been married to Michael for thirty-four
years. They have three grown up children. One is a professional
dancer, one a professional actor, and one hopes to be a
professional sportsman. Helen and Michael live in the Home
Counties and she is a member of her local Ordinariate Group.
Helen’s Father was a Yeoman Warden - that’s a
Beefeater to you and me! That means she grew up living
in the Tower of London. This was not at all romantic.
The house had no central heating, no electricity, and
slit-arrow windows without glass in the kitchen at any
rate. The rooms were tiny, and she told us, “I slept in a
cupboard! Oh, and yes, it is haunted!”
Rheumatic Fever even a pituitary gland tumour.
However; when they had grown up, I was no longer
needed and I needed to be needed. I started giving talks
about the Tower and my childhood there. I had Dad’s
hat and other visual aids. They seemed to go down
“I used to be a Tax Inspector with three hundred very well. I did them to raise money for Christian Aid,
staff to look after. It was my job to take those who so maybe I could give one or two for local Ordinariate
had evaded paying their tax, to court. One day I was Groups?”
addressing my staff, all of them, when my Dad walked
in. “Where is my little sausage?” he boomed!” Oh They needed help
“At Church I began to make friends. I became friends
dear!”
with those who needed a bit of help. They needed help,
Helen is a vivacious lady, full of life and fun. The I gave it. I take them to the shop, to an appointment
Portal had a wonderful time with her.
or for a day out. Now they ring me up and ask me to!”
a miracle
She told us, “Recently we had a miracle. My Mum
had cancer and was given the treatment. She showed
improvement, but we were told there were still three
or four ‘hot spots’. I went round to our priest and told
him. We prayed and celebrated Mass with a special
Intention for my Mum. We lit candles and prayed the
Rosary. When Mum went back to the hospital, what
do you know? No hot spots! I went straight round
to Father to tell him and we celebrated a Mass of
Thanksgiving.” The Portal thought “Oh that more of