With Wesley Thompson

Are you over it yet? (With Orla McKeagney)

My name is Ruth Jennings and I'm back with my podcast discussing whether you ever truly 'get over' the death of a loved one.  Today, I have a wonderful friend and great guest. She sings with me in a close harmony group called the Swing Gals which she and her sister started about 20 years ago (although I wasn’t in it at that point!) In her day job she works as a counsellor mainly with children and young people helping them work through trauma.  In this episode she'll be telling me about one of her very best friends, Una. She tells me about meeting Una at school and how special their relationship was and how difficult it was when she died in her early thirties.

With Wesley Thompson

My name is Ruth Jennings and I'm back with my podcast discussing whether you ever truly 'get over' the death of a loved one.  Today’s guest is a particularly special one for me, it's my father in law, Wesley Thompson. He's a retired environmental officer and spends most of his time doing music projects (usually related to brass bands) going to coffee shops and minding my children! He took the time to tell me about lovely son Andrew who died from a glioblastoma (brain tumour) in October 2019. He tells me all about Andrew, and what made him so special. He also gave me an insight into his illness, his subsequent passing and the various ways he has tried to navigate his grief of such a well loved son.

Are you over it yet? (With Kathryn Willis)

My name is Ruth Jennings and I'm back with my podcast discussing whether you ever truly 'get over' the death of a loved one. Today's guest is a fabulous lady called Kathy Willis. She is a very busy lady working for an amazing charity called CAP (Christians against poverty) as well as running a horse livery yard and being a wife and mum to three children.  In this episode, Kathy took some time to tell me about her beautiful sister, Janet who died when she was only 35 years old. We get a real flavour of what an amazing person Janet was, as well as some insight into her illness, subsequent passing and the challenges of grieving the sister she adored so much.

Are you over it yet? (With Bishop David McClay)

After losing my own husband, Andrew at only 32, in my podcast I am considering whether you ever truly 'get over' the loss of a loved one. Today is episode three and I am chatting to Bishop David McClay who is the Church of Ireland Bishop of Down and Dromore here in Northern Ireland. David sadly lost his first wife, Irene, when he was only 33 years old and was left to raise their 4 year old daughter alone. He tells me all about Irene, their journey through her illness, the challenges of single parenting, how his Christian faith helped him heal and loving again after loss.

Are you over it yet? (With Clare Galway)

This is episode two of my podcast considering life after bereavement and whether, even after many years you ever truly get over such a big loss.  Today I'm chatting to a fabulous local musician Clare Galway. She tells me all about her wonderful dad and how he sadly passed away when she was 14. We discuss the challenge of losing a parent so young, the awkwardness of grief as a teenager, and finally whether she has got over it yet?!