IT'S NOT often a coffee morning could be described as a life-saver — but that's what two Tavistock women can honestly claim.

Claire Garrod-Pullar and Linda Simpson-Hall met a year ago through a fledgling charity founded by Claire, the Service Users Recovery Forum, (SURF).

Claire, 47, suffers with post traumatic stress disorder. The condition was triggered after three major shocks, including the suicide of her brother, the diagnosis of her son Ben with autism and a highly traumatic major operation.

SURF came about after Claire, somewhat to her surprise, won a photography competition.

She decided to put the prize money into something she felt was desperately needed in the Tavistock area, setting up a social network for people with mental health issues to come together in a community setting.

SURF usually meets for coffee on the last Thursday of the month in Tavistock's Café Liaison. Occasional excursions are also organised.

It has built up into a small but vital support network, with members looking out for each other and keeping in touch.

Linda, 63, became a widow at a very young age. She has asthma, epilepsy and a heart condition, in addition to very limited mobility, and has struggled with depression for many years.

However, tragedy struck Linda again just before Christmas 2008.

She said: 'I lost my son, he took his own life quite unexpectedly.

'For ages after that my CPN (community psychiatric nurse) had been trying to get me involved in the community again, and he finally persuaded me to go to one of these SURF coffee mornings.

'I went to one and started chatting to people and eventually I realised I was having such a good time I didn't want to go home!

Shortly after that bad weather set in, limiting direct contact between members, but the more able ensured that the more vulnerable people were kept supplied with basic essentials.

Not long after, Claire hosted a coffee morning in aid of SURF and Linda promised to provide some cakes and home-made cards to sell.

She said: 'On the day I really wasn't feeling very well. I'd only met these people two or three times before, but someone still came and collected me and took me to Claire's.

'However, after a while, I went home because I really wasn't feeling good.'

Linda can remember nothing after that, apart from waking to find Claire in her bedroom.

'I couldn't possibly imagine why she would be in my room, and I remember saying "Claire, am I dying?"

'The next thing I remember was being washed by a nurse and thinking I was somewhere in Princetown — God knows why!'

Linda was actually in Derriford Hospital having suffered an epilectic seizure, in addition to pneumonia and a urinary tract infection.

Claire had been trying to call Linda to thank her for her contributions, but her phone had been engaged all afternoon.

By around 8pm, Claire was convinced there was something seriously wrong. She rushed over to Linda's house, and managed to get a key from a neighbour

'I remember it like it was yesterday,' said Claire. 'She was blue, and so cold, I've never felt anyone so cold, and there were no vital signs at all.

'I thought I hadn't got a chance, but I had to do something, I knew I had to clear her airways, so I got her on her side. Eventually there was this gasp and she opened her eyes.

'It was a traumatic experience, and to be honest, the paramedics didn't hold out much hope for her, they certainly didn't think she'd ever come home.

'I couldn't sleep, but my daughter Emma stayed up with me for the whole night, she was amazing.'

Claire spent countless days worrying and running over the events in her mind, while she, and other members of SURF worked together to look after Linda's house and her dog, Charlie. They also made sure that Linda had regular visitors at the hospital.

But Linda confounded the medics and recovered enough to move home.

And out of near tragedy, a deep and productive friendship has blossomed, which has had profound benefits for both women.

Claire has suffered for years with episodes of sleep-walking. She has also gone into what is described as a 'fugue state' while awake, in which she 'wanders off' — once even getting as far as Roscoff in France!

'Apparently I'd gone to the ferry port and bought a ticket with cash — my brother-in-law had to bring me home.

'I've been a nightmare to the community health team — I've been found in the river before now.

'I've woken up curled up in a tractor tyre in a field — the furthest I ever got sleepwalking was Dingles at Lifton!'

Claire now regularly stays overnight with Linda to keep an eye out for her — while Linda locks the house at night and hides the key!

Claire said: 'It's made a huge difference, because it means my daughter can live like a normal teenager.

'Emma had become like a carer to me, she wouldn't go to sleep-overs or anything because of the bizarre things I've done — even I can't believe them sometimes!

'She's having a proper life now, because two mad ladies have got together!'

Linda said: 'I've no regrets about what's happened to me — because of it, I now have some of the happiest times I've had for a long time. I know now who my real friends are — yet they were virtual strangers this time last year.

'I am not exaggerating, I am in dreadful pain constantly, I am on morphine, I am waiting for a hip replacement, I'm asthmatic, I've got a bad heart — you name it, I've got it or had it, but we still manage to have a laugh, and that's what it's all about.'

Meanwhile, Claire and Linda are determined that the charity which brought them together should continue to flourish and benefit other people in the community.

Linda said: 'We are desperately looking for people to help us do the smallest things just to raise some money.'

Claire said running a small charity like SURF was a constant fight, particularly when there were so few committed volunteers to help.

'I think the ones that come up trumps every time are the teenagers — they'll do anything you ask and then always offer to do more — that's so hopeful for the future.

'They are so dynamic and so accepting. They treat you like anybody else, and that's great.

'And some of the shopkeepers in Tavistock, when I've asked for raffle prizes, can't do enough to help.

'We don't need thousands, we don't own our own premises or anything, but because we are a mental health charity, when someone gives us just a pound, it means so much more to us.'

Linda said: 'People turn their backs on those suffering with mental health issues. We're not useless — we can still play a part in the community.'

Claire compared living with mental ill health with living inside a bubble.

She said: 'I want to get out of this bubble, I don't like living like this.

'I feel I want to put something back into the community — it's not all take, I want to give.'

And as Linda said, just because they have mental health issues, 'it's not all doom and gloom'.

'People always say they can hear us before they see us at the café, because there is so much laughter.

'I think some people worry that people will think they are not ill if they laugh, that you can't enjoy yourself, but that's not the case, you don't have to be miserable when you have mental health issues.'

SURF are hoping to begin holding coffee mornings again in February and hope that old and new members will come along.

Anyone who would like to help SURF in any way, whether by holding a raffle, quiz or sponsored event, or who can donate items to sell at charity bazaars, should contact Claire Garrod-Pullar on 07855 897606 or Linda Simpson-Hall on 01822 610337.