Nell Hardingham

“Who enriched the world…”

A golden afternoon after rain, late October. Post-lockdown. She, dying for fresh air.

…white body bag.

 A bicycle crocodile, kids between us. Helmets on.

… Dunlop wellingtons, scissors,

blood-stained bandaging.

The long climb up the winding hill, road shimmering.

Sunlight through trees. 

Height to heel 195cm,

Weight 84kg. Build slim.

Brain 1400g. Lungs: r 670g, l 665g

Heart 445g

Intense, low sunlight. Driving conditions poor.

Whoop! Their boy races up the hill, she chases.

He stays with their girl.

Mother and son, wait at the crest, laughing.

Behind them, quietness.

A bang.

Silence.

…greater distance and he could have stopped….

Stay here safe.’ She runs.

Blue socks…left ankle -

handwritten identity bracelet

unique tag BB00128

Car’s speed greater - rearwards over the bonnet…

Their daughter (thank God – alive) hurt. Crying.

A black car blocking the road. There…no…

…multiple injuries. Severe.

Brain stem virtually severed

Speed. Insufficient time and distance…

His kind blue eyes stare at a darkening sky.

His blood running down the hill. She talks to him. Prays.

Holds him, gently. Scoops blood from his mouth.

‘Darling man. Don’t leave us.’

…back of his head …

Shouts. Sirens. People.

A woman, from nowhere. ‘The children are fine - let’s clean you up?’

No, his blood stays.

Like poppies.

This was a non-survivable injury

His blood, his brilliance, his sweetness, all his rare life - running out.

…he came to rest …

He came to rest.

He came to rest.

Husband, lover, friend, father, brother, teacher.

Tim Hardingham, 22nd February 1949 – 15.39 pm 25th October 2020

“Who enriched the world around him with grace, wisdom and kindness”

His absence fills the world. His love inhabits the absence…