16 mins
When words fail
FOR me, one of the most challenging events of the year that’s just passed (ie 2018) concerned a young woman who volunteered to help out in the church of which I was then minister.
St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, was actually my first pastoral charge – after spells as community minister in Easterhouse and as Leader of the Iona Community.
At St Magnus, we had a pastoral care group which had an oversight of the needs of the congregation. We decided to set up a scheme by which members of the congregation would visit folk who might be lonely or struggling with dificult issues.
One of our first volunteers was 16-yearold Olivia McLeod. Inspired by her Quaker parents, Roderick and Emma McLeod, Olivia had a strong social conscience.
It was decided to pair the enthusiastic youngster with Peggy Swanney, a nearlyblind lady who was in her nineties. We weren’t sure how it would all work out given the age gap. We needn’t have worried – the pairing turned out to be a big success.
The two became fast friends. It spoke volumes about Olivia’s commitment, warmth, compassion and relationship skills.
After leaving Kirkwall Grammar School, Olivia studied at Oxford University. Then she did parliamentary work for Jim Wallace, who was then MP for Orkney and Shetland and a very diligent elder at St Magnus – continuing to visit his district even after he became Scotland’s Deputy First Minister at Holyrood.
Rather than pursue a career in politics, Olivia next joined the civil service. Intellectually strong and compassionate, she was soon fast-tracked to bigger jobs. After some time in Washington researching the American criminal justice system, Olivia moved to the Scottish Government as deputy director for Children, Young People & Social Care.
After her marriage in 2011, Olivia found herself back in London, working as director of early years in the Department of Education.
The birth of two daughters delighted Olivia and prompted a move back to Scotland in 2015, returning to the Scottish government as a director. Life seemed complete for the lass who, at the age of 16, had brought delight to a half-blind Orcadian lady in her 90s, and had embarked on a stellar career of public service.
I wish I could say that this was a ‘happy ever after’ scenario, but this story doesn’t end there. At the age of 40 Olivia was diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer. Typically, she sought to help others who were facing similar dificult situations.
Olivia McLeod died on August 3, 2018, at the grievously young age of 41. It is still hard to take in that this spirited, much- loved, engaging public servant is dead. She has helped many people in her time, both professionally and personally.
“It doesn’t seem fair, does it? Hell, no. It isn’t fair. Explanations don’t work, words fail us. But sometimes broken words are all we have.
It doesn’t seem fair, does it? Hell, no. It isn’t fair. Explanations don’t work, words fail us. But sometimes broken words are all we have. Jean Holloway’s beautiful funeral hymn, Dunblane, strikes a chord:
When friends assembled here must part, And darkness seems to ill the heart, Light one small lame of hope that still You walk with us, and always will; Enfold in love for evermore All those we love, but see no more.
And the ancient scriptural promise echoes down the ages:
Weeping may endure for the night, But joy cometh in the morning.
This article appears in the January 2019 Issue of Life and Work
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This article appears in the January 2019 Issue of Life and Work