Before becoming a companion at Emmaus Greenwich, I was a gardener in Farnborough for 25 happy years.

I loved the job and I still love tending to gardens now. It wasn’t until I got married that my life became increasingly unsettled. The more work I took on, the angrier my wife got – she didn’t like me being out of the house for long periods of time.

The controlling behaviour started to get out of hand and she demanded that I cut my hours. After a long time trying to stay in the marriage, I decided to leave for good.

Without a word to anyone, not even family, I packed up and left… I went missing for 10 years.

I camped in thick woodland near Kingston, and made that home for five years while maintaining the gardens at a local community centre for the elderly.

I enjoyed my life, but when I heard about Emmaus through a fellow ‘runaway’, I knew that would suit me better.

I went to Emmaus Greenwich for an interview and moved in almost immediately.