WHEN my husband and I came to live in the Forest and retire, we were warned that Foresters do not like 'Outsiders' and if you lived here for 30 years you would still be an outsider.

Well I have found at every turn this is not correct; first I gave up the idea of retiring, that was met with help at every turn; then I along with others purchased an office, and the business is flourishing.

When we had our first winter in the forest, it of course snowed, and the local newsagent brought my Sunday paper up, so I did not have to worry. The local post office have been marvelously; they soon realised that I was not at home to accept parcels, no problem them bought them to my office.

All of this is run of the mill stuff, but welcome all the same.

However, when things got really tough they were still there; my husband has been ill for several years now, refusing any assistance from anyone, especially from doctors and hospital.

Well last year is came to a head, and despite his objections doctors attend him; the catalogue of illness is far to long to go into here, suffice to say that as one doctor said to me, 'Whatever we look for we find it.'

My husband was rude and irritable with anyone offering assistance, but they continued with a smile and some times a joke.

Christmas of 2010, it all came to ahead; my husband had three falls and went into hospital, it then came to light that he had dementia brought on by minor strokes, among another list of things. Then my neighbours Katharine and John Best came to the rescue, giving up their Christmas to be with me. He was in Gloucestershire Royal Hospital for three weeks, then transferred to the Dilke, were his treatment was second to none.

I then realised that he would need full-time carers, with me looking after him in the evening; again I had all the assistance from Foresters I needed.

I found three excellent carers; led by Marylin Hall and backed up by Theresa Hinds, and Shirley Edwards. These ladies were more than carers, they actually acted like family, despite the abuse my husband heaped on them at times, all of which was due to his illness.

If you are looking for carers you could not do better than these three ladies.

When after three months of doing the evening and night caring as well as working full-time, I finally collapsed and these ladies took over the evening and nights.

Nothing was too much trouble for them. When we realised the end was coming the three ladies stopped around the clock, holding his hand when I needed sleep, and to the end they saw to his need. I will never be able to find words to show my gratitude to them, or to all those who help me.

This includes Eddy Carpenter in the newsagents, who opened the shop for us at 10pm, to give us batteries for the electric bed, or ensuring that our supply of Detol went with out a hitch.

To Katherine and John Best nothing is to trivial for them to think of and help.

The Health Centre, where a call meant someone was on the way, be it district nurse or doctor, those at Colliers Court, and those who delivered equipment to the house which made our job of looking after him so much easier.

To Philip Blatchly, of Lydney, who arranged a perfect send-off, nothing was to much trouble; last but not least the Speech House who arranged the wake.

To my staff who are keeping the business going in my absence, and to clients who have shown a great deal of understanding.

Bearing in mind I am still an outsider who those in the Forest helped above and beyond the call of duty; until they invent a better word I can only say thank you.

Veronica E Godfrey

Cinderford