Chad Varah (1911 - 2007), founded, Samaritans in 1953, a British charity, the world’s first crises telephone helpline for the suicidal and emotionally distressed. When I asked Chad Varah if I could take a picture of him, he modestly quoted the proverb: “You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear”! The picture was taken at Rev Chad Varah’s church of St Stephen, Wallbrook, in the City of London, where he was rector (from 1953 until his retirement in 2003 at the age of 92). He is the author of books including: “Before I Die Again: The Autobiography of the Founder of the Samaritans, Rev Chad Varah”; “The Samaritans: Befriending the Suicidal”, and other titles and writings including a television play “Nobody Understands Miranda” broadcast by the BBC a six-part series about the Samaritans. Other work includes Chad Varah's involvement in the creation and editorial of the children's comic “The Eagle” (essential reading for my generation as children) which was published from 1950 to 1969; and its related publications. City of London, England, 19th August 1993. RKW
Date: 19/08/1993
Location: City of London, UK
Photographer: Richard Keith Wolff
