Dedicated volunteers were honoured for five, ten, 15, 20 and 25 years long service at St Elizabeth Hospice at a 25th Anniversary Volunteer event.
A total of 66 volunteers were due a Long Service Award, including seven who have supported the local charity for 25 years, since the Hospice opened in 1989.
The event, which included afternoon tea, took place at Trinity Park, Ipswich, on Sunday (8th June) and was attended by around 220 people.
Special guests included Hospice founding fathers Mr Nicholas Ridley, St Elizabeth Hospice’s President, and Dr Terry Mott, Vice President.
They were joined by the Mayor of Ipswich Cllr Bill Quinton and Mrs Barbara Quinton, the Mayor of Woodbridge Cllr Geoff Holdcroft, the Mayor of Aldeburgh Cllr Richard Cross and Mrs Pippa Cross, and representing Framlingham Town Council Cllr Kevin Coe and Mrs Eileen Coe.
BBC Radio Suffolk’s Rachel Sloane gave up her time to MC the event. Farlingaye High School Big Band also put on a fantastic performance during the afternoon.
Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk, Lord Tollemache, and St Elizabeth Hospice’s Chairman of the Board of Trustees, William Barnes, presented the special badges and both thanked the volunteers for their continued support and commitment to the Hospice, without which, the Hospice wouldn’t be able to continue providing local Hospice care for local people.
Mr Barnes said: “We have over 1,100 volunteers working across all areas of the Hospice and I would like to thank each and every one of them. It is comforting to know that St Elizabeth is supported so well by its volunteers. It is this support that enables us to provide the first class care that we have given to our patients and their families over the last 25 years and that we will continue to provide in the future.”
Among those recognised for 25 years’ service are: Judy Robertson, Receptionist; Sue Adair, Nurse Volunteer; Primrose Elford, Hadleigh Shop; Ella Fulcher, Saxmundham Shop; Jackie Flowerdew, Village Rep; Sue Robinson, Retail Volunteer and Dawn Easter, Stamp Collector.
Mrs Robertson, Mrs Adair and Mrs Easter attended the event and were presented with a beautiful paper weight, along with their badge.
Dawn Easter, 49, of Ipswich, has been selling stamps in aid of the Hospice since the fundraising campaign began and she now has a team who help her.
She said: “I was surprised when I was told I would be receiving the award as it doesn’t seem like 25 years. I enjoy what I do and I’m glad to be able to make some sort of small contribution to the Hospice.”
Sue Adair, 69, of Ipswich, a former midwife, started volunteering at the Hospice the first week it opened in 1989 and she still enjoys volunteering and being involved with general nursing and care. She said: “I love it here it’s so very friendly and you feel part of the family.”
Judy Robertson, 80, of Ipswich, originally ran the foyer shop until 2004 when the reception area was refurbished and there was no longer room for the shop, and not wanting to lose her connection to the Hospice, Judy moved to working on reception instead.
Judy said: “Even though the Hospice is 25 years older, the people still are as fantastic as they were then and they still give patients the same extraordinary level of care and attention.”
The 33 long-serving volunteers who could not attend the event received their award by post with a special thank you card and letter.
Local flower clubs were invited to create a piece to commemorate the Hospice’s 25th Anniversary and to display at the event. The winner, Stowmarket Flower Club, received a hamper from Wyevale garden centre and a voucher for Notcutts. Thank you to both companies, who donated the prizes, free of charge.
To find out more about volunteering click here or to see our current volunteer vacancies click here
Here is the full list of Long Service Award recipients:
5 years:
Patricia Hall, Complementary Therapist
Linda Cummins, Complementary Therapist
Dianne Taylor, Day Services
Stuart Beauchamp, Volunteer Driver
Brian Whittaker, Volunteer Driver
Mick Hilton, Volunteer Driver
Susan Beauchamp, Family Support
Judy Smith, Reception
Joanna Noble, Ward Volunteer
Deborah Pryke, Ward Volunteer
Sandra Holloway, Ward Volunteer
Eileen Sharman, Partnership Group
Marion Burstall, Dog’s Head Street Shop
Gloria Dickinson, Dog’s Head Street Shop
Debbie Hedges, Dog’s Head Street Shop
Grace Naunton, Dog’s Head Street Shop
Laura Francis, Dog’s Head Street Shop
Kay Carter, Hadleigh Shop
Ray Hill, Felixstowe Shop
Peggy King, Nacton Road Shop
Linda Gilbert, Saxmundham Shop
Jacqueline Kingston, Saxmundham Shop
Ken Lunn, Selkirk Road Shop
Barbara Cutting, Stowmarket Shop
Katherine Middleton, Stowmarket Shop
William Smith, Stowmarket Shop
Cynthia Holland, Stowmarket Shop
Denise Mattin, Stowmarket Shop
Mary Allum, Stowmarket Shop
Jennifer Bennett, Stowmarket Shop
Judith Foulger, Woodbridge Shop
Diana Ecob, Fundraising
Michelle Richer, Fundraising
10 years:
Jimmy Glennon, Gardening and Chaplaincy
Valerie James, Ward Volunteer
Brigid Thompson, Aldeburgh Shop
Rose Shimmon, Leiston Shop
Marjorie Harvey, Nacton Road Shop
Ann Blain, St Matthew’s Street Shop
15 years:
Joyce Cooper, Day Services
Keith Cockrill, Driving Volunteer
Daniel Hickey, Maintenance
Miranda Margetson, Ward Volunteer
Joy Surridge, Selkirk Road Shop
Marilyn Armstrong, Stowmarket Shop
Joyce Bloomfield, Stowmarket Shop
Eileen Birch, Stowmarket Shop
Joan Shepherd, Woodbridge Shop
20 years:
Beatrice Page, Complementary Therapy and Day Services
Connie Stone, Fundraising
Jane Cole, Woodbridge Friends Group
Betty Benson, Fundraising
Mr Ablitt, Fundraising
Mrs Ablitt, Fundraising
Peter Taylor, Wood Turner
Christopher Fay, Fundraising and Driving Volunteer
Heather Vickory, Volunteer Covenant
Doreen Bradbury, Fundraising
Alan Quinton, Fundraising
25 years:
Judy Robertson, Receptionist
Sue Adair, Nurse Volunteer
Primrose Elford, Hadleigh Shop
Ella Fulcher, Saxmundham Shop
Jackie Flowerdew, Village Rep
Sue Robinson, Retail Volunteer
Dawn Easter, Stamp Collector