Symphony to air on BBC Radio Three inspired by Worthing man Oliver Hare

Oliver Hare, a 22-year-old from Worthing, took his own life in 2017, just two days before his 23rd birthday.

The University College London graduate loved travelling and socialising, but after returning from teaching English in Shanghai, his family said he seemed to go “suddenly in reverse”.

Oliver saw a doctor in early January 2017 and said he was feeling anxious, depressed, lost and unsure about the future. He saw another doctor who prescribed him with an antidepressant over the phone. Four days later on February 14, 2017, Oliver took his own life.

• READ MORE: 'No parent should go through that' - mother of 18 year old who died tells of loss

Since then, his mum Ann Feloy, has set up a suicide awareness and prevention charity, Olly’s Future, which she says helps her to deal with the sadness.

Tonight, a symphony that was inspired by Oliver is being played on BBC Radio Three, which Ann said has brought her and many others to tears.

She said: “In some ways it only feels like yesterday, the sadness never goes and you’re living with it all the time. There has been a little bit of healing I guess with the support I’ve had.

“These sorts of things that raise awareness and support are lovely. I have my charity now, Olly’s Future, you can see the amount of work we do.

February 14, 2022 will be five years since Oliver took his life

“Even though it’s five years, it does seem like yesterday since we lost him. I think it always will be, I think we will always have to live with the sadness and loss.”

The symphony was written by Jonathan Brigg, a composer, who performed it with Sussex Folk Orchestra.

The five-song symphony, which is called Seafaring Folk, was performed in a medieval barn near Storrington on October 10 and recorded by BBC sound engineers at the time.

Ann started Olly's Future which is a charity for suicide prevention and awareness

Ann added: “The piece of music is absolutely beautiful. When I met Jonathan Brigg the composer, he was such a lovely young man. He was so moved by the story I think so it quite inspired him when he was writing the piece of music.

“The fifth piece is particularly lovely, it’s called ‘Sea of Solitude’. He said he was thinking of Oliver when he wrote it and I am very grateful to Eileen Sephton for putting on the concert which raised around £700 for the charity.”

The symphony will be broadcast tonight after Radio Three in Concert which is at 7.30pm. The symphony will be on around 9pm.

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