Hospice volunteers honoured for long service

Volunteers who have been helping the Hospice for five, ten, 15 and 20 years were given awards for long service during a summer afternoon tea party.

The event took place on Saturday 16th June at Kesgrave Conference and Community Centre in Kesgrave, Ipswich, and was attended by around 200 volunteers and staff.

The Mayor of Ipswich, Councillor Mary Blake, presented the special badges and thanked the volunteers for their support and commitment to the Hospice.

Hospice Chief Executive Jane Petit praised the volunteers: “We now have over 1,000 volunteers and they really are the life blood of the organisation. Our volunteers really help us make a difference, without them helping on our wards, in our shops, or out in the community fundraising, we wouldn’t be able to offer the services we provide.”

Vera Coles, 80, of Stowmarket, has been a volunteer at the Hospice for 20 years, starting as a receptionist for nine years and then moving on to the Stowmarket shop when it first opened.

She said: “My husband died in 1991 and received such wonderful care at the Hospice. He was treated in the Hospice for two weeks and at first he was terrified but after the second week, he didn’t want to come home. The doctors and nurses were amazing and in 1992 I decided to give something back, and volunteered on reception every other Sunday.

“I now work every Saturday morning at the Stowmarket shop and have done since the shop opened, I was one of the first volunteers to work in the shop.”

Gillian Shemming, of Ipswich, is one of 53 people recognised. For nearly ten years she has been providing complementary therapy to patients, mainly in Day Care. She said: “It is very humbling working at the Hospice. It is surprising how many of the male patients love the therapies. In most cases they have never had anything like a hand massage before, but every Wednesday when I come into Day Care, they are the first ones with their hand up, asking for another one.”

(Pictured above-Gillian Shemming, left, and Elizabeth Johns, right)

Elizabeth Johns, 39, of Ipswich, who offers complementary therapy to patients in Day Care at the Hospice, as well as at home, was recognised for 5 years service. She said: “A male patient commented to me recently that it was a pity he had to wait until he was ill to be offered complementary therapy, he enjoys it so much.”

Evelyn Kent, Jennifer Davies, Christine Fulcher and Freda Palmer have all been volunteering at our shop in Dogs Head Street, Ipswich since it opened five years ago. Freda Palmer, of Ipswich, said: “We all have a connection to the Hospice, each of us has lost a loved one in the Hospice, and volunteering in the shop is a way for all of us to give back.

“We all love working in the shop, and through volunteering there, we have made good friends in each other too.” 

Those long-serving volunteers who could not attend the event received their award by post with a special letter.

St Elizabeth Hospice welcomes the support of volunteers to provide a helping hand in all areas of the organisation including its shops, garden, inpatient unit, reception, driving patients to day care, or helping with fundraising and administration.

If you are looking for a rewarding role see our current volunteer vacancies.

Here is the full list of Long Service Award recipients:

Victor Bradbrook, Fundraising, 20 years

Sue Bradbrook, Fundraising, 20 years

Vera Coles, Stowmarket Shop, 20 years

David Smith, Finance, 20 years

Gwynneth Rhys-Jones, Woodbridge Friends Group, 20 years

Anne Bannister, Woodbridge Friends Group, 20 years

Muriel Bridges, Fundraising, Village Rep and Framlingham Shop, 15 years

Alan Norris, Daycare Driver, 15 years

June Winter, Fundraising and Framlingham Shop, 15 years

Joan Reed, Felixstowe Shop, 10 years

Donna Ralph, Felixstowe Shop, 10 years

Frances Last, Dog’s Head Street Shop, 10 years

Gillian Shemming, Complementary Therapy, 10 years

Ruth Smith, Great Bealings Village Rep and Felixstowe Shop, 10 years

Alan Quinton, Fundraising, 10 years

Michael Jarvis, Maintenance Volunteer, 10 years

Jean Bloomfield, Catering, 10 years

Susan Goward, Family Support Volunteer, 10 years

Joyce Bardwell, Leiston Shop, 10 years

Anne Barratt, Woodbridge Friends Group, 10 years

Eileen Ritchie, Woodbridge Friends Group, 10 years

Mandy Barker, Receptionist, 5 years

Ronald Barton, Distribution Centre Driver, 5 years

Barbara Blacketer, Hadleigh Shop, 5 years

Tracey Deveney, Fundraising and Kirton Village Rep, 5 years

John Edwards, Maintenance Volunteer, 5 years

Linda Flaherty, Day Services Volunteer, 5 years

Janet Greengrass, Fundraising, 5 years

Rachael Hines, Dog’s Head Street Shop, 5 years

Evelyn Kent, Dog’s Head Street Shop, 5 years

Isabella King, Dog’s Head Street Shop, 5 years

Peggy Reynolds, Dog’s Head Street Shop, 5 yearss

Jennifer Davies, Dog’s Head Street Shop, 5 years

Christine Fulcher, Dog’s Head Street Shop, 5 years

Frances Osborne, Dog’s Head Street Shop, 5 years

Freda Palmer, Dog’s Head Street Shop, 5 years

Mary Withers, Dog’s Head Street Shop, 5 years

Vivien Jelley, Ward Clerk, 5 years

Elizabeth Johns, Complementary Therapy, 5 years

Stanley Canham, Box Collector and Fundraising, 5 years

Mim Canham, Box Collector and Fundraising, 5 years

Carol Carter, Community Fundraising Admin, 5 years

Janice Jordan, Receptionist, 5 years

Kay Marks, Receptionist, 5 years

Maureen Millar, Nacton Road Shop, 5 years

Mervyn Nunn, Daycare Driver, 5 years

Kathleen Ord, Woodbridge Shop, 5 years

Margaret Read, Family Support, 5 years

Patricia Pearce, Catering, 5 years

Debbie Pryke, Ward Helper, 5 years

Caroline Taylor, Receptionist, 5 years

Roy Thornycroft, Dog’s Head Street Shop, 5 years

Julie Whitten, Day Care Driver, 5 years