Chapter 25. Royal Bath Hotel Bournmouth - Fire Death Robery Stabbing - Mum and Dad

Hi Colin here,  Saturday 29th November 2025 and another fine day in wet and chilly (had some very hot ones last night) paradise called Bridlington East Yorkshire. I started the day with blank page. I let my mind wonder,,,

Coercion ‘involves compelling a party to act in an involuntary manner…’ [Wiki] 

Is what follows an  example of coercive control or loving kindness? The margins are fine so please be patient.

I spoke with my mum on the phone four weeks ago, lovely chat and great to catch up. She mentioned going on a coach trip to Bournemouth and staying at the Royal Bath Hotel where Sheila and I had stayed with her and dad. We chatted for 20 minutes, can't stop mum once she starts; who she was paying rent to, who managed her finances and especially aware she need to be careful with money. Her last words were ‘I love you’. Her phone number has since been changed. Could that be coercion? Or fear perhaps. There is more to come but please be patient.

Royal Bath Hotel Bournemouth Summer  2019

Built in 1838. The hotel opened on Queen Victoria's coronation day in June 1838, becoming the first hotel in Bournemouth. The 1878 extension was designed by Christopher Crabb Creeke. In January 1979 the east wing of the hotel was destroyed by fire. In 2011 an elderly grandmother was accidentally scalded to death in a bathtub. In 2014 there was a robbery at the hotel. In 2019, armed police were called after a man was stabbed in one of the hotel rooms.

The same week (the stabbing)  Mum and Dad arrived courtesy of a Shearing’s coach trip, all the way from Bridlington along with 38 other Wessie’s picked up from various parts of West Yorkshire. I went on a similar trip to North Wales in September and it’s a fabulous safe, guided holiday for single, elderly -I qualify– folk to make new friends and have a ball. They have quizzes, bingo and dancing almost every night. Just fab. Where was I? Oh yes Sheila and I joined them for two nights.

 We knew by thenSheila’s cancer was terminal yet she was alway the second on the dancefloor, just after mum LOL. Dad was in good spirits and after a Brandy’s (two pints earlier) he was also on the dancefloor. We had walked into town earlier, up though the amazing gardens up past the square and along the Bourne Steam path. Lovely day, well over 10,000 steps so all tired.

1728 on 11th June 2019 The happy couple

We kissed and hugged goodnight around 9.30pm  before going to our next door rooms on the ground floor. At 0114 exactly (first thing I did was look at my wrist) there was knocking on the door. I could also hear a faint ‘Colin Colin’ and recognised mums voice immediately. I open the door to see a distressed mum. ‘Dad is very poorly, shivering and can’t get warm, I’ve put my duvet over him and don’t know what to do’, she whispers as we are in the corridor, and I’m naked! I quickly put a towel around my waist and we go in their room to find dad in a dreadful state.

Lambo, already with pants and T shirt on, arrives, has the room phone at one ear with his mobile, having dialled 999, at the other. The night porter  is informed, arrives seconds later. Mum goes with dad in the ambulance while Lambo chases in his car. After a very long and sleepless night we all return to the hotel. Dad was suffering from a UTI (Urinary Tract Infection – dad has no bladder pees in a bag) plus severe dehydration; after 4  days of caffeine, two pints and a Brandy each day. In Lambo, and his mums, defence they did give him a 500ml bottle of water for the walk each morning. Stubborn bugger would take it begrudgingly.

If truth be told the hospital should have admitted dad, but released him (six hour on a saline and antibiotic drip) knowing he was going home that morning. He was back in Scarborough hospital four days later after the UTI had really taken a hold. His

Royal Bath Hotel Summer 2025

Shearing’s (or similar) holiday full of Wessie’s, including my mum. Just fabulous and she will have a ball and maybe even find herself man to be friends with. Loneliness is something I am learning more about daily, particularly caring for my dad.

All good so far, except my mum told me a different story. When my mother tried to book the trip, by herself, my brother John intervened and insisted, she implied against her wishes, he went with her. She said the holiday was ok and we reminisced about her dancing with Sheila and as I said above her last words were 'I love you'.

And the point I am making is

Are  my brother John’s action those of  a loving son or those of a coercive controller? I truly hope the former. Could be fear of course?

I have proposed family mediation, no prizes for the answer.

Meanwhile I can’t decide whether its back to Lambo stuck in Sherborne recovering from a slipped disk or Bungalow, one of Lambo’s former names, in Loughborough with a failed teaching practice.

The Universe will no doubt decide.

Gym next then watch Everton v Newcastle with dad.

Have a good day.

 

Colin