We met Jamie quite by chance in Riverside Park today.
We had taken a walk alongside the Itchen and had stopped for a break sitting overlooking the wide expanse of the river at that point near Cobden Bridge. Suddenly we were aware of a scooter and its rider wearing a baseball cap flashing past in front of us. It had to be an electric scooter although I personally cannot recall seeing one before.
Time to make the return journey to where we had parked the car. As we rounded a slight bend in the path we saw a young man and realised he was the same scooter rider. He glanced our way so I stopped and asked the fastest speed of the scooter and found it to be 40+ mph. (I didn't think at the time of mentioning that my mobility scooter has a top speed of 4 mph.)
We fell into conversation and Jamie told us that he takes the scooter on the train and uses it for part of his journey to work as a teacher at a school in Basingstoke. I wondered what subject he teaches and he explained that he works in an inclusion unit at the school, supporting pupils who have various learning difficulties. He was offered the post as lockdown started and has only just begun his duties. He was very happy that felt he had just made a difference to his first 1:1 pupil.
Jamie explained further that he himself experienced problems with his education in his teenage years and this helps his understanding of such difficulties. He feels he has a better life now, aged 29.
I regret now not asking him more about his first love, music, and his previous life as a musician, travelling 'all over' to give concerts. Jamie was an eloquent speaker and I was caught up in the conversation and did not even think, for a long while, of asking for a strangers' portrait. When I did, he was happy to agree and I took several shots. The light was fading and we were in the shade of large trees so some photos were more successful than others.
We finally parted company and Jamie stored my email address in his phone so that he could contact me for photos. He also took the details to find my Flickr account. I hope he will have a good and fulfilling career in his new work. I wish him well.
to see more photos of Jamie, scooter and baseball cap go here: https://flic.kr/p/2jEFrMo and scroll down
Heroes like Jamie are so needed. I hope you share that with him from a grateful Mom in the US. You are also a hero, your courage in meeting and sharing their stories with us is most appreciated. 🙏😇
What a very interesting encounter Hazel....lots to talk about & discover about this impressive young man. He seems to have found his perfect niche in life.
Thanks so much everyone for a great response to this continuation of my strangers' project. I admit I nearly gave up when I got embarrassed at approaching people from a mobility scooter and then lockdown started. But somehow my strangers' project refuses to die and has taken on a life of its own: another stranger 'came my way' just after this one so I shall be posting that as soon as I have written the narrative. xx
September 10th, 2020
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Thanks so much everyone for a great response to this continuation of my strangers' project. I admit I nearly gave up when I got embarrassed at approaching people from a mobility scooter and then lockdown started. But somehow my strangers' project refuses to die and has taken on a life of its own: another stranger 'came my way' just after this one so I shall be posting that as soon as I have written the narrative. xx