Would you sleep in a graveyard? Well, Mr. Ewan did !!

On Friday 30th November he spent the night sleeping rough in St. Johns Churchyard in Moulsham Street!

His brave and restless night was not because he was out of funds but because he was raising more for Chess, the Chelmsford shelter for homeless people, many of whom are students.

His report of the experience makes fascinating reading and can be found on the Heathcote School website. The thought necessary to even begin such an adventure is clearly highlighted and shows the difficulties faced by the homeless every night.

In total Mr. Ewan raised £930 for CHESS which, together with our clothes collection and the very generous donations at the Harvest Festival, mean that the school have substantially helped a very caring charity.

Mr Ewan report:

1) Number of others.

There were about 30 people altogether and between us we had a good variety of plastic covers for our sleeping bags and sleeping mats, several had cardboard boxes- very authentic.

2) To begin

Before the sleeping part of the sleepover began there was tea, cake and music by the pupils of
St. John Payne School, by the church's choir and by other musicians who had given up their time to help.

3) Getting ready to sleep

I walked round the church yard which has grave stones amid areas of grass. I looked for a place which may be sheltered from the rain and the wind. Couldn't find one.

4) Into the sleeping bag

Once inside my sleeping bag and settled I realised one leg was cold, but if I moved it may get colder, stay still. Leg still cold and getting colder. Reached down to see why. The zip had undone as I got into the sleeping bag, zip it up-warm. Too hot- push up the plastic cover, too windy and wet coming in, pull down plastic cover and listen to others try to settle. Can't sleep can't sleep can't sleep..., lay listening to the wind roar through the trees and pull at the plastic cover over me. It stayed on because I had pinned it down with tent pegs. Cant sleep
cant sleep-------

Want a wee - and still not asleep. Got up into a cold clear sky with the stars bright and padded through the wet grass to the lavatory. On the way in the dark I saw one of the gravestones which was covered in plant growth and looked like a face staring at me, next to it another
covered in bare branches like a skeletal fingers reaching out to get me - walk quickly...quicker.

Inside the church I was surprised to see about 8 people on duty to see that everyone was ok and to prepare breakfast for the sleepover people. It was 6 am! I had been asleep all night. I must have dropped off almost right away! I went back to my now cold sleeping bag for an
hour- no one allowed up or out until 7am. A couple next to me rose before I did and the lady said -that handsome young man next to us hasn't moved all night!

Bacon butty and tea for breakfast cooked by some of the volunteers.

On a more serious note,

Prior to leaving home to go to the sleepout I had to give thought to several things: do I take a wallet with no-where to keep it safe, should I take a spare pair of shoes in case mine are taken, will the bags I use to carry my things in be safe out all night? These are simple questions that the homeless must face every day and every night.

Everyone's generosity has helped me to raise £930 for Chess
Thank-you very much. A great gift just before Christmas to the homeless of Chelmsford who with the volunteers of CHESS provided security at the sleepover by staying up all night to see that everything went well.