I Could Have Saved Him

I'm glad my poem number 290 is a tribute to Graham Thorpe, the cricketer.

Why did he do it?I don’t understandHe should have spoken to meI could have saved him. Graham Thorpe was an excellent cricketer, played first class cricket for SurreyRepresented in 100 test matches and 82 one day internationalsGraham was the best player England had in the 1990’sThere was never a dull moment with him. Graham saved England many a timesWhen England was 30 for 2 he would arrive with his steely eyesThat would show he was up for a fightThey called him the little genius. After his retirement Graham was England’s batting coachMany a young men who play now have been trained by himRoot said Graham could sing you a ballad at the crease andwould rock your socks off which meant he had a great range of play. Graham Thorpe was a good guy, had lots of funFriends who knew him say he was such good company, was always there to help his teammatesIn their darkest moments it was Graham who helped thembut no one was there to help Graham in his darkest moments. During his coaching days Graham suffered depression and anxietyDespite having a wife and two daughters who loved him, he did not get betterIt was announced that Graham had taken some time off from coaching careerHe was seriously ill, but at the time no one knew what his illness was. In recent times he believed that his family would be better off without himWhat really happened in Graham’s personal life we can only speculateIt’s all very well for news media to broadcast there are plenty of charitiesAnd NHS Mental Health for help and support for people with mental illness, but are they really there? On 4 August, the 55 year old Graham Thorpe took his own life after being stuck by a train in Esher, SurreyI was shocked and cried for daysPeople who suffer from mental illness know how painful this horrible diseases isI didn’t know Graham Thorpe, but he should have come to meI COULD HAVE SAVED HIM.