More than 500 people gathered at Worcester Cathedral to celebrate the 40th anniversary of a hospice charity.
A service of thanksgiving and celebration for St Richard’s Hospice took place on Wednesday, May 1 – 40 years to the day since the charity began caring for patients in Worcestershire.
Guests heard the hospice’s story told through the recollections and reflections of volunteers and staff members.
The service was led by The Reverend Canon John Paul Hoskins, Canon Precentor, Worcester Cathedral, and the hospice’s Lead Chaplain, The Reverend Canon Clare Griffiths.
Music was provided by school choirs from RGS Worcester and King’s Hawford, the Jenny Lind Singers, and organist John Wilderspin.
Jenny Cowpe, Chair of Trustees at St Richard’s, said: “It was wonderful to see so many people come to help us celebrate a significant milestone in our history and the sound of 100 children singing Eric Clapton’s Tears in Heaven was truly uplifting and left hardly a dry eye in the house!”
The vision to set up a hospice in south Worcestershire became a reality in 1984, starting from the home of Dr Jenny Bulman in Droitwich.
Since the hospice began, St Richard’s has received more than 73,000 referrals for people to access their services for patients, their loved ones, carers and bereaved people.
There are now 256 staff and 790 volunteers who make St Richard’s what it is today.
More information about the hospice’s history can be found on its website www.strichards.org.uk/about/our-history.
St Richard’s Hospice is an independent charity offering free, expert care for adults with an illness that cannot be cured, and support for their loved ones and carers.
Each year the hospice team supports more than 3,100 patients, family members and bereaved people in Worcestershire.
It will cost in the region of £12m to run the hospice this year, which includes patient care and all the necessary support services.
St Richard’s relies on voluntary support, including from donations, gifts in Wills, retail and events for the majority of its income with the remainder funded by the NHS.
For more information about St Richard’s Hospice visit www.strichards.org.uk.
