This year staff, as well as 37 volunteers, were celebrated for their dedication and passion. Awards were presented by the Hospice’s CEO Sharon Allen OBE, Chair of Trustees Kate Kirk and Voluntary Services Manager, Hannah Touhey.
Sharon comments: “Arthur Rank Hospice Charity’s volunteers and staff are integral to making Arthur Rank Hospice, the vibrant, welcoming and uplifting place that it is. Last week was an important opportunity for us to show our heartfelt appreciation for everything they do.
"There was a lovely atmosphere and during the evening we were delighted to circulate our Annual Review for the first time. As I mentioned on the evening itself, last year we cared for over 4000 patients; we served an incredible 13,395 hot drinks in the Bistro; and the Specialist Palliative Care Home Team made 6,109 calls to patients and their representatives.
"None of this would have been possible without our Team Arthur family. We are rightly proud – not only of those recognised with long service awards on the evening – but of each and every person who contributes something special, towards making our care outstanding.”
One of those presented with a special certificate on the evening was Tina Shah, who has now volunteered with the Hospice for over 20 years. She was inspired to do so having witnessed the care given to her friend Jaya Gohil in 1993. At the Celebration Evening, she was delighted to be joined by members of both Jaya’s and her own family. The team took the opportunity to have a quick chat with her, you can hear more here.
Other volunteers recognised on the evening* were:
Joan Raven (Fundraising, 15 yrs), Chris Head (Inpatient Unit, 10 yrs), Stuart Morgan-Shelbourne (Retail, 5 yrs), Jean Harding (Chaplaincy, 5 yrs), Eileen Milner (Inpatient Unit, 5 yrs), Les Rymer (Fundraising 5yrs), Sandra Mottaz (Reception, 5 yrs)
Colleagues celebrated for long service on the evening, included:
Emma Kiernan (Registered Nurse, Inpatient Unit, 18 years); Norma Caira (Registered Nurse, Inpatient Unit, 11 years); Sue Rossitter (Joint Day Therapy Lead, 18 years); Carly Love (Matron, Inpatient Unit, 15 year); Marian Bellamy (Complementary Therapist, 18 years); Lynne Hays (Finance Manager, 20 years); Faith Macrow (Registered Nurse, Day Therapy, 18 years); Lorraine Moth (Matron, Arthur Rank Community Team, 19 years).
*A number of other volunteers were also recognised for long service but were unable to attend, including:
Alan Hudson Day Treatment Centre volunteers – Linda Alock (5 yrs), Eileen Phillips (10 yrs), Christina Halton (20 yrs)
Bistro volunteers (previously the Tea Bar at Mill Road) – Carolyn Barker (5 yrs), Carolyn McCarthy (5 yrs), Ann Brookes (15 yrs), Melinda Buxton (20 yrs)
Fundraising volunteers – Alison Fish (5yrs), Barbara Dyson (5 yrs), Tracey Fernandes (5yrs), Lil Newman (5 yrs), Selina Sinker (5 yrs), Jonathan Wilson (5 yrs), Helen Kama (5 yrs), Shirley Matthews (5 yrs), Marion Moss (5 yrs), Debbie Taylor (5 yrs), Hannah Grainger (5 yrs), Ruth Griffiths (5 ys) Amy White (10 yrs), Karen Begg (10 yrs), Katie Sumpter (10 yrs) Stella Mills (10 yrs), David Thompson (10 yrs), Maureen Thompson (10 yrs), Kay Brown (10 yrs), Val Stebbing (15 yrs), Jill Townsend (20 yrs), Yvonne Cieslik-Bridgen (20 yrs).
Visit the Hospice's Facebook page photo album for more photos from the evening HERE
To keep an eye on Arthur Rank Hospice Charity’s job vacancies, bookmark arhc.org.uk/arhc-vacancies.asp.
To learn more about our volunteering opportunities visit arhc.org.uk/volunteering
To find out more about a unique and thought-provoking evening ‘Let’s talk about death’ next month, with Dr Katherine Sleeman (the first palliative care specialist to receive the prestigious NIHR Clinician Scientist Fellowship), click here