My Father’s Hospice Story
“As a family, we are so immensely proud of Dad and the contribution he made to this amazing charity.
“St Elizabeth Hospice is a real community organisation, one that was created by local people to support their community and one that is still generously supported to this day by the community,” explained Penny Sydenham, whose father, Roger Sydenham, served as Director of Fundraising at St Elizabeth Hospice from 1988 to 1996.
This year marks our 35th anniversary of delivering hospice care in your local community.
From beginning in 1983 as a fundraising appeal with the aim of raising £1 million to build a hospice, to having our doors officially opened by HRH the Princess Royal in December 1989 – St Elizabeth Hospice has developed and evolved greatly over the years.
To reflect on this growth, we are taking the time to look back on a few of our landmark moments and have enjoyed hearing the stories of many supporters, such as Penny, about their connections to our special charity.
“Dad was born in Haywards Heath, West Sussex, in 1930, where he grew up with his parents and siblings,” said Penny.
“Leaving school aged 14, Dad began work at Cuckfield Urban District Council, saving money whenever he could to buy LPs for his precious gramophone and to take the train to concerts in Brighton – as music was such a passion of his.
“In 1950, he moved to Haslemere to take a job at the Town Council. He lodged with a lady called Ruby who had a profoundly deaf son. As a lover of music, Roger was moved by the plight of deafness, and learnt British Sign Language and lip reading so he could communicate Ruby’s son – an early example of his determination to use his skillset to help others.
“It was this passion which eventually saw Roger work for the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID), where he stayed for 30 years, beginning as an administrator before becoming director.
“After taking early retirement from the RNID, he was thrilled to discover the opportunity at St Elizabeth Hospice and became the charity’s Director of Fundraising in 1988. Even better still, it meant Dad and Mum could move to Suffolk to be closer to me, as I had moved to the county for my own work.
“Dad loved working at the hospice, as he saw it as a very worthwhile cause which made such a difference to people’s lives.
“Through his role, Dad and his team went the length and breadth of Suffolk, giving talks, attending fundraising events and encouraging supporters to get behind the hospice’s cause.
“During his time at the hospice, he saw great change as the charity grew to support even more people, who needed care from its vital services.
“He greatly admired the volunteers, doctors and nurses who worked at the hospice and he would often tell us how it was such a privilege to be able to support their brilliant work through his own role.
“St Elizabeth Hospice is one of those special community organisations. Everybody in the Suffolk community feels a sense of ownership for the hospice, as it was the community who helped get the idea for a hospice off the ground.
“Dad once told me that being a director of an organisation can be a lonely job, but at St Elizabeth Hospice he felt part of a team who all supported one another and that he was able to meet people from all walks of life working towards the shared goal of supporting the hospice.
“During his time at St Elizabeth Hospice, he had many highlights, including meeting Sir Bobby Robson and HRH the Princess Royal. However, an amusing memory which stands out is when Ipswich Scuba Diving Club made a kind donation to the hospice. (pictured)
“The club asked if Dad would take part in a cheque presentation underwater, at the bottom of a swimming pool, for a photo opportunity. There was one small issue – Dad could not swim.
“Undeterred and always up for a challenge. Dad spent six weeks taking swimming lessons so he could take part in the photo opportunity and he managed it! The photo even appeared in the local newspaper – the East Anglian Daily Times.
“After leaving St Elizabeth Hospice in 1996, Dad retired and moved with Mum, back to their beloved West Sussex.
“Here he continued to enjoy his love of music, took part in daily competitions with Mum to see who could finish The Times’ crossword the quickest, and joined a walking group with Mum to enjoy many walks by the sea.
“Dad died peacefully and comfortably in February 2023 aged 92, at Oak Hall Care Home, Haslemere.
“A self-made man, he really did live life to the full. At his funeral, we asked for donations to go to St Elizabeth Hospice and the RNID – two organisations close to his heart and causes which make a big difference to the lives of so many.”
