Isabel Hospice 40th Anniversary Supplement June 2022

Years

We’re 40!

40 years of care in our home, and yours – across eastern Hertfordshire

Pictured: Isabel Last and her husband, Tony, with the Duchess of Kent at the official opening of the Day Hospice in Hall Grove in 1986.

Years

40 years of care in our home, and yours

Forty years ago on 21st April 1982, Isabel Last convened the first meeting of trustees of what was to become the Welwyn & Hatfield Hospice Service.

Isabel and the founding trustees had a very clear vision of what they wanted to create: a hospice service providing excellent and loving care to those living with cancer and other life-limiting diseases.

Since those early days, the Hospice has more than delivered that vision as it has expanded its services to reach out to patients and families, with a range of care not imagined 40 years ago.

As each new service was implemented – Clinical Nurse Specialists, Day Hospice, In-Patient Unit, Hospice at Home, Living Well, physiotherapy, bereavement services, children and teenage support and Compassionate Neighbours – they have all been supported by dedicated staff and a volunteer force.

The Hospice has a strong support system in the community, which over the years has helped to raise the money that has been needed to fund these vital services.

Isabel Hospice is a valuable part of the community of eastern Hertfordshire, and will continue to find innovative ways of supporting patients and families.

With warmest wishes

Barbara Doherty, MBE President of Isabel Hospice

Share the l ve for Isabel Nothing makes us more proud than hearing how our very special way of caring makes a meaningful difference to the lives of the people we care for.

The kind words and messages of support we have received over the years have been a constant inspiration as we work towards our vision of outstanding palliative care for all.

As part of our 40th anniversary celebrations, we have launched a special online dedication page to capture the many ways our charity has impacted the lives

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of those who have come into contact with our charity since it was founded in 1982. However the Hospice has touched your heart, we would love to hear your personal stories as we look back on 40 years of life-changing care.

You can also choose to leave a donation alongside your dedication to help ensure we can continue to be there for others who need our care and support, both now and in the future.

To make a dedication, please visit isabelhospice.org.uk/ online-tributes.

Familiar faces old and new attend luncheon Staff and volunteers from the founding days of the Hospice gathered together for a special 40th anniversary luncheon on April 21st – exactly 40 years to the day that the first trustees meeting was held back in 1982.

Many familiar faces were present at our celebratory event at Hatfield House, including Pam Harvey, our first Director of Nursing, Helen Dodd, the former Director of Patient Services, and Alison Daniels, the first Volunteer Manager. Jenny Gaydon, our first administrative secretary, travelled all the way from Wales to join the celebration with other past trustees and volunteers.

Other special guests in attendance included the Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire Robert Voss, the High Sheriff of Hertfordshire Sally Burton, and Hospice patrons Lord and Lady Salisbury, along with the mayors of Welwyn, Hatfield, Hertford, Ware, Broxbourne and Bishop’s Stortford.

Our Life President, Barbara Doherty MBE, who organised the prestigious event with members of the special events committee, said: “The whole day was one of celebration for the 40 years of care that have been given by Isabel Hospice to patients and their families. It also recognised the enormous support we receive from the community, and our very loyal supporters.”

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Our Ourjourney journey 1967

Dame Cicely Saunders OM DBE FRCP FRCS (1918-2005) opens St Christopher’s Hospice in Sydenham, the beginning of the modern hospice movement, providing a holistic approach to palliative care.

1982

1984

Two specialist nurses appointed to cover Welwyn and Hatfield.

Public meetings begin to be held all over the catchment area to recruit local volunteers and fundraisers.

On 21 April, Isabel Last, resident of Welwyn Garden City, former nurse and living with cancer, convenes the first meeting of the Welwyn and Hatfield Hospice Service.

1985

Change of name to Hospice Care Service for East Hertfordshire.

Dr David Knight and wife, Patricia, offer respite care at their converted home “Pinewood”, in Hoddesdon.

Prayer groups established.

Isabel in the News

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1986

Isabel Wing, Hall Grove opens.

Building provided

by Welwyn Hatfield Council.

Becomes the hub of the service.

1989

Launch of £800,000 appeal to build an In-Patient Unit in grounds of QEII, Welwyn Garden City. Building work begins. First sod cut by Patron Kim Wilde.

First Hospice shop opens in Cheshunt

by Patron Marty Wilde.

1988 Isabel Last, our founder, dies.

1987

On 14 May, HRH The Duchess of Kent opens Isabel Wing.

Seven specialist nurses in post to cover the Hospice catchment area, i.e. the East Herts Health Authority.

1990

On 1 October, HRH The Duchess of Kent opens 10-bed IPU. Development of the Bereavement Service.

2001

Extended and refurbished IPU opens, with 16 beds.

1993

First palliative care contract with East and North Herts Health Authority.

New courtyard garden designed and opened by Patron Kim Wilde.

Garden at Isabel Wing, Hall Grove designed and established by volunteers and sponsors.

21st volunteer course held.

1996

Physiotherapy and lymphoedema care increases.

2012

Day hospice services become more targeted to patients’ needs at the various satellites.

1998

Isabel Hospice responds to the Covid-19 crisis.

Offers six beds in IPU for use by the NHS. Specialist nurses work remotely.

30th Anniversary

Hospice at Home launched.

Launch of Living Well with Isabel Day service sessions in Welwyn Garden City, Bishop’s Stortford and Stanstead Abbotts aim to increase mobility, strength and life expectation of patients.

2020

Isabel Hospice receives The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Hospice launches lottery.

2016

Old QEII Hospital Welwyn Garden City is demolished. In-Patient Services moved to care home in Hatfield until work is completed.

2009

Appointment of first General Manager.

First Sunflower Appeal and Sunflower Ball.

13 Hospice shops run by the Trading Company.

Lights of Love ceremonies commence.

Change of name and logo of charity to Isabel Hospice.

Appointment of part-time chaplain.

25th Anniversary

Children’s support group launched (CATS) and family support extended.

1995

1994

2007

1,000 volunteers supporting all parts of the service.

All fundraising events postponed or cancelled.

Virtual fundraising events organised.

Lights of Love and Garden of Memories “Forget-Me-Not” services are held virtually to support families.

Hospice launches Fighting Fund, raising £160,000.

2022

40th Anniversary of Isabel Hospice.

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Volunteer tea parties Where would we be without our wonderful volunteers?

They truly are the backbone of our organisation and it would have been impossible to achieve all that we have over the past four decades without their passion and dedication to helping us achieve our vision of outstanding palliative care for all.

As an expression of our gratitude, we have been hosting a series of special tea parties to say thank you for all the many invaluable ways they contribute to our work.

Our volunteer engagement lead, Caroline Baynes, said: “It’s true to say that without our volunteers, there would be no Isabel Hospice.

“Whether they have fundraised for us, helped at an event, supported our shops, offered a listening ear or hand to hold to a family in times of crisis, or given their time in other countless ways, their value to us is immeasurable.

“We are grateful to each and every person who has given so freely of their time, experience and expertise over four incredible decades of care.

They have helped shape the Hospice into what it is today.”

Cheers to 40 years!

Raise a glass to Isabel Hospice and toast 40 years of incredible care with a special edition gin that has been distilled especially for us.

We have collaborated with Spirit of Hertfordshire, a craft gin distillery in St Albans, to create the tipple, using ingredients foraged from Hertfordshire’s hedgerows and ancient woodlands.

Our gin is a classic London dry infused with the blossom of Welwyn’s iconic avenue of linden trees that line Parkway and Howardsgate, as well as Hertfordshire lavender.

Our retail business manager, Charlotte Greenwood, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have collaborated with Spirit of Hertfordshire on this limited edition gin – it is the perfect way to toast four decades of specialist, compassionate care for the people of Welwyn and eastern Hertfordshire during the Hospice’s milestone year.

“The fact that it uses such iconic ingredients taken from such a well-known natural landmark in the town, where the Hospice was first founded back in 1982, makes it even more special. We hope people will raise a glass to our charity as we celebrate our history and look ahead to many more years of caring for those living with life-limiting conditions, and their loved ones.”

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The Isabel Hospice gin is priced £15.99 to £43.99 per bottle and we will receive a donation for every one sold to help guarantee the future of our care*. Delivery is free to local residents, or you can visit the Spirit of Hertfordshire Distillery and Shop at Woodcock Hill, St Albans, AL4 9HJ. * Dependent on bottle size, 11–12.5% of each sale will be donated to Isabel Hospice.

The garden, as it started taking shape back in the early 1990s...

Peter’s living legacy at Hall Grove Our beautiful garden at Hall Grove is a place of comfort and contemplation for our patients and their loved ones.

So it was with great pleasure that we were able to welcome the son of its designer to hear how his father’s horticultural legacy is still bringing peace and tranquillity to all who use it more than 30 years later.

During his visit, Simon Jenkins shared the original design created by his late father, Peter, and looked back at some archive photographs of the garden, as it started taking shape back in the early 1990s.

Peter was a member of Welwyn Hatfield U3A when he volunteered to design and build a garden on what was then an overgrown piece of wasteland at the back of our Hall Grove community hub.

Along with a dedicated team of green-fingered U3A friends, work began with much earth moving, digging and hard landscaping before the garden as it looks today began to emerge.

The space was nurtured by the U3A team for many years, with them spending a couple of hours a week from April to October in groups of four or five. For several years, they also hosted their annual garden party there, with the proceeds of the raffle donated to our charity.

In 2001, the maintenance of the garden was handed over to our own band of Hospice garden volunteers, who work hard to ensure it remains a place for our patients to sit and enjoy the outdoors, or take a quiet moment to be together with those they love.

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ISABEL EVENTS THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC PARTY NIGHT

AN EVENING WITH THE YORKSHIRE SHEPHERDESS

Saturday 11th June

Thursday 15th September

Calling all Dancing Queens – this is your night to say Thank You for the Music!

Writer and TV personality Amanda Owen will be sharing the challenges, rewards and realities of life on the farm when she fronts An Evening with The Yorkshire Shepherdess.

This international smash-hit tribute act will be performing all of ABBA’s no. 1 hits, combining the unmistakable harmonies, colourful costumes and dazzling performances by the all-star cast.

Relax at your table and enjoy the Greek taverna atmosphere with exceptional food and wine. There will also be a silent auction and raffle.

Tickets are £75.

CHRISTMAS AT THE MANOR Wednesday 16th November

Our popular Christmas at the Manor returns to the Manor of Groves Hotel in Sawbridgeworth. The festive shopping extravaganza is an opportunity to pick up some early stocking fillers from a variety of stallholders selling cards, fashion, gifts and more.

Tickets, which include lunch, are £40 per person.

The evening, in the Tythe Barn at Tewin Bury Farm, will begin with wine and canapés followed by an hour’s talk, Q&A session and book signing.

A frank, funny and informative show, expect heart-warming tales and honest anecdotes from her remarkable farming and family life.

Tickets are £35.

These events are organised by the Isabel Hospice special events committee. Tickets are available from Barbara Doherty by emailing barbara@thedohertys.info or calling 01279 842140.

OTHER ANNIVERSARY EVENTS ISABEL HOSPICE TOWN TRAILS Can you spot the Isabel Hospice nurses hidden around Welwyn, Ware and Hoddesdon?

Follow our town trails to see if you can find them in the shop windows of some of our local independent businesses.

Write down all of our nurses’ names and claim a prize at the end.

Saturday 26th November

Join us for an unforgettable night celebrating 40 years of Isabel Hospice at our Snow Ball.

Tables of 10 or 12, as well as individual tickets, are available for our black tie event taking place at the beautiful Tewin Bury Farm Hotel.

You can collect your town trail map from your local Hospice shop. Entry is £5 per sheet.

Thank you to pupils of St Augustine’s Primary, Christ Church Primary and Swallow Dell Primary for creating posters for this family-friendly event.

Years

ISABEL HOSPICE SNOW BALL

Guests will arrive for a drinks reception before sitting down for a sumptuous three-course meal, with live music from The Bear and entertainment. There will also be a live auction and raffle on the night as well as a casino.

Tickets are £75 per person.

isabelhospice.org.uk/events/snowball

www.isabelhospice.org.uk Registered Charity Number 1046826