Terry is no stranger to St Barnabas, having volunteered for the Hospice for almost three decades.
But his first encounter with such a place was many years earlier – before World War II. As a young boy, Terry visited his uncle in the Hostel of God at Clapham Common. Run by nuns, Terry watched as they appeared to float across the floor, and it seems that was the start of a lifelong involvement with hospice care.
In the last 28 years, 91-year-old Terry has donated umpteen hours and raised thousands of pounds to make sure St Barnabas can continue caring for people living in and around Spalding. It started when he visited his local St Barnabas to find out how he could lend a hand. The Hospice team spotted something special in Terry and within seven days, he was volunteering. One day a week for the next 15 years, Terry drove patients to and from the Hospice for respite care.
Around the same time, he was asked to share his wartime experience as an evacuee with local groups such as the Women’s Institute. Terry was happy to oblige and used the opportunity to support the Hospice by donating his speaker’s fee to St Barnabas. That was 27 years ago, and he’s still in demand! As one of our biggest advocates, Terry takes every opportunity to talk about St Barnabas too.
Along with his wife, Terry has also organised many fundraising activities and he even did a sponsored slim, raising pounds with every pound he slimmed down! But perhaps the most notable fundraising event is his annual golf day.
When Terry spotted a story in his local paper about a charity golf day, he wondered whether he could do something similar. Well, Terry’s inaugural golf day set a precedent for the next 12 years. In fact, he’s planning on marking his 92nd birthday in 2023 with his 14th golf day!
Terry has lived under five sovereigns during his lifetime, and he was even in the crowd as the carriage procession passed through parts of London to mark the Silver Jubilee of George V. It was a memorable moment for the five-year-old. But it didn’t beat the moment when hospice movement founder Dame Cicely Saunders sat down for a chat with Terry before making him a cup of tea!
It seems hospices have always had a place in Terry’s life, and with his unwavering support and dedication, Terry will always have a place in our hearts.
In his own words…
“I’m surprised and honoured to be chosen as one of the 40 Faces. I keep supporting the Hospice because I see the good it does. I get a lot of satisfaction from being a volunteer and doing something to help, it gives me a real sense of purpose. But I couldn’t do it without the backing of my wife, family and friends.”
To see all 40 Faces and their stories, please visit: https://stbarnabashospice.co.uk/40faces