Hospicecare group celebrates 20th anniversary (From Dorset Echo)

Hospicecare group celebrates 20th anniversary

2:10pm Saturday 21st November 2009

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A SOCIAL group that thrives on laughter and merriment celebrated its 20th anniversary with past and present volunteers and friends.

The Bridport social group for the Weldmar Hospicecare Trust was one of three social groups across Dorset to hit the double decade figure this month.

Members, friends, past and present volunteers and staff joined in the celebration at Bridport Community Hospital, where the group holds its weekly meetings.

Former Bridport mayor Daphne Mundy, nee Stebbings, who officially opened the social group in January 1990, was among the special guests.

She said it was ‘nice to see what has grown out of a small acorn’.

Several of the group’s original volunteers were also welcomed to the special lunch, including Mary George, Pam Coventry and Noreen Marchant, who was there on the day it started 20 years ago.

Caroline Munslow, Weldmar’s volunteer co-ordinator, and the hospital matron Heather Purse also attended. Lyn Goward, manager of the Bridport social group for the last eight or nine years on behalf of the Weldmar Hospicecare Trust, said the group had ‘grown and thrived’ over the years.

She said: “We couldn’t do any of it without our volunteers; they give a day up every week to come along and help out.

“On our party day they were there really early in the morning decorating the room and then serving lunches.

“They collect members from Bridport and further afield in Beaminster, Lyme and sometimes Abbotsbury and put three-wheel buggies in the back of their cars.

“One of our volunteers comes from South Perrott, near Beaminster, which is a long way to come.

“We must be doing something right, I feel we are one big family and I do really enjoy it.

“Everyone has a good time and a laugh and then they come back for more.”

She added: “We have several original volunteers who began 20 years ago and still help us out – Jean Sexton, Joan Wilkinson, Joan Hedger.

“And Bluey Hancock who comes by bus from Lyme Regis to do the washing up – isn’t she amazing?”

Other highlights at the event included a raffle, a roast lunch provided by the hospital and special puddings made by the volunteers.

A specially-decorated sponge cake was donated by Joan Hedger’s daughter-in-law.

Lyn made a speech and read a ‘silly poem’ to the 31 people who attended – including around 13 patients.

She said: “The social group is for people in remission, some are still being seen by nurses and we can monitor them on that day.

“If we notice they’re not very well we can get in touch with the palliative care nurses.

“We usually have about 13 in on a Thursday and almost the same amount of volunteers.

“They really spoil us at the hospital.

“There’s a lot of laughter, that’s the main thing.”

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