Thanks for sharing that marra. A message from the heart, for us all to keep an eye on each other.I mentioned him on another thread earlier today, but here goes….
I remember the first day I met Andrew Friend. It was 31st December, 1983 at a NYE party at my mates house in Belmont. I was 17. We got chatting and he asked me if I was interested in volunteering at Durham Hospital Radio as a presenter no less, broadcasting out of Dryburn Hospital. Why not I said. So began my very short lived career as a radio DJ. Five months later I gave up my chance of fame as I was joining the army.
Andrew and I kept in sporadic contact for about a year but life kind of took over and we just stopped communicating.
Fast forward 30 years to 2015. I’m living in Australia and a Senior Constable at Mirrabooka Police Station. I caught the arse end of a radio advert about a new radio station called UKWA. I thought I’d see what it was all about but I had to register my details including mobile number for some reason. Not thinking anything of it I did so.
Maybe a couple of days later I’m at work on a late shift and I get a call from an unknown number. The voice asks me if I’m EJK and was I the EJK who used to live in Carrvile and volunteered at Durham Hospital Radio. That voice was Andrew Friend. Long story short, Andrew and his partner had emigrated to WA a year or two earlier and had set up UKWA out of their house.
So, Andrew and I reconnected. Mrs EJK and Andrew got on like a house in fire and we would often visit him and his partner. The first time we visited, Andrew brought out a folder which had all the letters I had sent. Unfortunately Andrew and his partner didn’t settle here and about a year later they moved back to the UK and the NE.
Come 2017 and the Krankies went back to the UK for a visit. As we always do we go up to Sunderland and take in a game. This time it was against Stoke City.
We thought it would be nice if Andrew came along, being a Sunderland supporter himself so we bought him a ticket. We met him outside the club shop at the SOL before the game. Everything was great…until it wasn’t. I turn around and see Andrew sat slumped against a wall shaking and crying. I had no idea. All Andrew was saying was that he couldn’t do it any more and he wanted to go and jump off the Wear Bridge. Supporter EJK turned into cop EJK and Andrew was taken into a medical room at the SOL whilst local cops assisted in getting him some immediate mental health support. I know he was detained under police powers of the mental health act that day.
The Krankies returned to Australia a week or so later. Andrew would call me every now and again but it was clear from the calls he wasn’t in a good way. I tried to give him support where I could but being the other side of the world, I’m sure you know how limited that support was.
In November 2018 Andrew died, aged 54. The reports said he was battling an illness that he fought all the way. I don’t know the exact nature of his passing, but I can certainly hazard a guess that it wasn’t of natural causes.
I didn’t know it because I wasn’t looking for it but Andrew was suffering from depression and everything associated with that.
Why have I told this story? Partly to exorcise my feelings about a good friend. Mainly though it’s to say that we should all look out for each other. The signs may not be obvious at first but look out for the subtle changes in your mates. Be there for them whenever you can. You may be the only stabilising factor in their life. I just wish I could’ve done more for Andrew.
Tributes paid to former Tyne Tees presenter Andrew Friend
Andrew Friend presented the ITV Tyne Tees news in the 1990s and has been fondly rememberedwww.chroniclelive.co.uk
I’ve mentioned on here before that my cousin took her own life when she was 21. I was 12 years old at the time and it was, without question the worst day of my life. 38 years later, it’s still the worst day of my life despite some tricky times over the years. For the longest time I asked why she didn’t phone someone and ask for help…..then it dawned on me that she wasn’t thinking straight and no manner of “help” or attention would have saved her. I have no idea what her trigger was that night, but it could have been as trivial as brunt toast, or something utterly devastating. It took me so long to understand that mental health, depression and suicidal thoughts have no linear path and no magic cure.
Very touching EJK, thanks for postingI mentioned him on another thread earlier today, but here goes….
I remember the first day I met Andrew Friend. It was 31st December, 1983 at a NYE party at my mates house in Belmont. I was 17. We got chatting and he asked me if I was interested in volunteering at Durham Hospital Radio as a presenter no less, broadcasting out of Dryburn Hospital. Why not I said. So began my very short lived career as a radio DJ. Five months later I gave up my chance of fame as I was joining the army.
Andrew and I kept in sporadic contact for about a year but life kind of took over and we just stopped communicating.
Fast forward 30 years to 2015. I’m living in Australia and a Senior Constable at Mirrabooka Police Station. I caught the arse end of a radio advert about a new radio station called UKWA. I thought I’d see what it was all about but I had to register my details including mobile number for some reason. Not thinking anything of it I did so.
Maybe a couple of days later I’m at work on a late shift and I get a call from an unknown number. The voice asks me if I’m EJK and was I the EJK who used to live in Carrvile and volunteered at Durham Hospital Radio. That voice was Andrew Friend. Long story short, Andrew and his partner had emigrated to WA a year or two earlier and had set up UKWA out of their house.
So, Andrew and I reconnected. Mrs EJK and Andrew got on like a house in fire and we would often visit him and his partner. The first time we visited, Andrew brought out a folder which had all the letters I had sent. Unfortunately Andrew and his partner didn’t settle here and about a year later they moved back to the UK and the NE.
Come 2017 and the Krankies went back to the UK for a visit. As we always do we go up to Sunderland and take in a game. This time it was against Stoke City.
We thought it would be nice if Andrew came along, being a Sunderland supporter himself so we bought him a ticket. We met him outside the club shop at the SOL before the game. Everything was great…until it wasn’t. I turn around and see Andrew sat slumped against a wall shaking and crying. I had no idea. All Andrew was saying was that he couldn’t do it any more and he wanted to go and jump off the Wear Bridge. Supporter EJK turned into cop EJK and Andrew was taken into a medical room at the SOL whilst local cops assisted in getting him some immediate mental health support. I know he was detained under police powers of the mental health act that day.
The Krankies returned to Australia a week or so later. Andrew would call me every now and again but it was clear from the calls he wasn’t in a good way. I tried to give him support where I could but being the other side of the world, I’m sure you know how limited that support was.
In November 2018 Andrew died, aged 54. The reports said he was battling an illness that he fought all the way. I don’t know the exact nature of his passing, but I can certainly hazard a guess that it wasn’t of natural causes.
I didn’t know it because I wasn’t looking for it but Andrew was suffering from depression and everything associated with that.
Why have I told this story? Partly to exorcise my feelings about a good friend. Mainly though it’s to say that we should all look out for each other. The signs may not be obvious at first but look out for the subtle changes in your mates. Be there for them whenever you can. You may be the only stabilising factor in their life. I just wish I could’ve done more for Andrew.
Tributes paid to former Tyne Tees presenter Andrew Friend
Andrew Friend presented the ITV Tyne Tees news in the 1990s and has been fondly rememberedwww.chroniclelive.co.uk
