In Touch Autumn 2020

Countdown to
new hospice
Page 3
All you need to know
about Light up a Life
Page 7
Introducing our
new online shop
Page 9
Autumn 2020
www.thameshospice.org.uk

Pine Lodge memories
As we move to our new hospice, we step back into our rich history and the fond memories we hold of our
beloved Pine Lodge.
1987
In November, Thames
Valley Hospice at Pine
Lodge is officially opened
by Her Majesty the
Queen
1990
Thames Valley Hospice expands its
services offering bereavement support,
education and training for professionals,
and ‘Hospice at Home’
2009
A new reception area opens to provide a
welcoming and friendly environment for
patients and families from the moment they
enter the Hospice
2002
An extension at Pine
Lodge provides muchneeded
additional
bed capacity on the
Inpatient Unit
2012
Hospice celebrates 25
years of serving our
community with another
visit from Her Majesty
the Queen
2005
Thames Valley Hospice
merges with The Paul
Bevan Foundation in
Ascot to form Thames
Hospicecare
2013
Thames Hospicecare
becomes Thames
Hospice, and is
honoured with The
Queen’s Award for
Voluntary Service
We are leaving behind our
building, but the memories of
those cared for at Pine Lodge
will live on in the foundations of
our new hospice in Bray.
2014
In September The Sanctuary
is officially opened by HRH
The Countess of Wessex
2019
The official ground
breaking takes place at
the new hospice site by
Bray Lake
2017
Planning permission is granted
for a new state-of-the-art hospice
which will serve our community
for generations to come
A dedication to our founder,
Dr Douglas Denny
Thames Valley Hospice was built with the determination of a
dedicated group of people, led by Dr Douglas Denny and his
wife Pauline. The group recognised the need for a home from
home for patients with life-limiting illnesses, and
fought for their vision to become a reality. Dr
Denny, a pillar of the community, passed away
in May 2018. His legacy is the Thames Hospice
we see today, and which will continue at our new
hospice by Bray Lake.
Remembering Reverend
Derek Nuttall
The Reverend Derek Nuttall passed away at home on 24 June
2020. Derek had been chaplain to the Hospice for many years
during his time as a minister at the Windsor URC during the
1990s. The family has felt a strong association
with Thames Hospice and in 2013 undertook
a sponsored walk to raise funds. Derek will
be missed by many for his contribution to
understanding of bereavement care and those
whose lives his work touched.
2

Windsor Rd
Countdown
A308(M)
to new hospice
A404(M)
A308
Upper Bray Rd
M4
M4
The final countdown is on as we prepare to move
into our new hospice later this year!
Holyport Rd
A308
How to find us
Windsor Road, Maidenhead SL6 2DN
Fifie
Pine Lodge
Inpatient Unit
28 en-suite bedrooms across three
separate wings
Each wing has a
special Jacuzzi
bathroom
with mood
lighting to
create a relaxing
experience for our patients.
Dedicated space for visitors to spend
precious moments together and stay
overnight.
A new Education and Training Centre to
support staff, patients’ carers and healthcare
professionals across our community
The Sanctuary will offer a space for
quiet reflection and special occasions such
as patient weddings and birthday parties
Our new café will serve mouthwatering
refreshments all
year round.
More than 200 free parking spaces
Our Palliative Care Response Team will
be able to spend 600 more hours per year
supporting patients in their own homes
3
Paul Bevan Centre
Home to our Day Therapy Suite where
we will double our Day Therapy Services
provision.
Rehabilitation Centre to improve
patients’ fitness and muscle strength.
5 clinic rooms offering therapeutic
treatments and Lymphoedema services.
4 counselling rooms providing emotional
support to patients and their loved ones.
Eight acres of beautiful wheelchairfriendly
landscaped gardens, and a stunning
water course will stream its way through the
hospice gardens and down to Bray Lake

Meet...
Sheila
Diagnosed with cancer of the
hip three years ago, Sheila
Leaver, aged 76, is receiving
palliative care and support
at Thames Hospice.
Living with an increasing level of
pain and unable to cope at home,
in July 2020 Sheila was admitted to
the Inpatient Unit at the Hospice for
a second time for pain and symptom
management. The Nursing Team’s top
priority is to make Sheila feel more
comfortable and give her the best
possible quality of life.
Sheila says: “Like many people I was,
of course, scared the first time I came
to the Hospice. You think everything
will be dark; you fear you won’t come
out, but it’s the opposite. It’s serene
and calm here and every single nurse
is so kind and compassionate. They
all bend over backwards to help both
you and the family.”
Back in 2017, Sheila was initially
advised that the pain in her hip
was probably due to degenerative
changes, but her symptoms worsened
and her husband finally convinced
Sheila to get an x-ray. The couple
received the devastating news she
had cancer and needed immediate
surgery. Sheila suffered many postoperative
complications and was
eventually referred by Wexham Park
Hospital to Thames Hospice for pain
management and symptom control.
Sheila has lived in the village of
Cookham all her life. After leaving
school, she pursued a career in
nursing and worked at the former
Maidenhead Hospital before meeting
her husband.
Sheila continues: “My husband and
I met outside the village store in
Cookham. It took a while for us to get
together, but my heart ruled over my
head and I decided that he was the
one for me!”
Soon after they married, their
daughter, Amanda, was born followed
by son Nigel. Sheila’s husband worked
as a Farm Manager at Woodlands
Farm in the village.
She says: “My husband would think
nothing of getting up at 3am for
work, but that meant that I had to fit
my life around
his unsociable
working hours,
so I put my
career on hold
to stay at home
and bring up
our children
when they were
very young. But
as soon as my
children were old enough to go to
school, I returned to frontline nursing
and worked in the A&E department
and Outpatients at Maidenhead
Hospital.”
Life was good for the couple and they
were thrilled to become grandparents
to Kiera, their son’s daughter, who
is now 13 years old and lives in
“I didn’t mind coming
to Thames Hospice
again as I know what
a fantastic place it is.
I cannot fault it at all.
I feel safe.”
Doncaster with her parents. Their
daughter Amanda enjoyed a fantastic
career in the police force where she
met her husband.
However, the Leaver family has faced
some incredibly challenging times
together recently. Tragically, in 2016
their daughter’s husband died very
suddenly, leaving Amanda widowed
at just 50 years old. As Sheila battled
her own life-limiting condition, her
husband also sadly passed away two
years ago from heart disease.
At Thames Hospice our patients are
at the heart of everything we do,
but a vital part of our work is also
supporting their loved ones. Whilst on
the Inpatient Unit, Sheila is regularly
supported by the Pastoral Care Team,
as well as her
daughter when
she visits her mum
here most days.
Sheila adds: “These
last few years
have been very
hard for us. We
are a close-knit
family and are
there for each other, but the support
from the Pastoral Care Team helps
us and is especially important for my
daughter at the moment.”
Sheila has also benefited from having
Complementary Therapy during her
stay at the Hospice to ease her pain.
She continues: “One particular day,
I had excruciating pain in my head
4

Right: Sheila
Bottom left: Sheila and Inpatient Unit Health
Care Assistant Donna
Bottom right: Sheila and Complementary
Therapist Michelle
and Michelle, one of the therapists,
gave me a wonderful head
massage. If I’d have been offered
complementary therapy a while
ago I would have said why do I need
that?! But I love it and it’s really
helped with the pain.”
Sheila also loves sitting in the Hospice
gardens, particularly when her family
comes to visit.
“It really feels like home from home
at the Hospice”, says Sheila. “I can’t
walk anymore, but I can get into a
chair and enjoy the tranquil gardens
with my children and granddaughter.
They feel very reassured about the
care here and can’t fault it at all.”
“My message to people is that
they mustn’t be scared of coming
to the Hospice; it really isn’t what
you think. It’s kind, it’s humane
and beautiful and the people here
are just splendid!”
“I want to reassure
people that they
mustn’t be scared
of coming to the
Hospice.”
5

you
have made
a difference
Our community has been a wonderful
support throughout the coronavirus
pandemic. Many of you have thought
outside the box and done some amazing
fundraising during these challenging
times. There has been some hair-raising
sponsored fundraising with shaved heads
and mohicans; isolation photography,
virtual walks and runs, and many of you
took part in our virtual pub quizzes.
Little Fundraising Stars
We’ve been amazed by the local children who have set themselves challenges through lockdown and raised vital
money for us. To name a few we had Ruby taking on a sponsored silence, siblings George and Jennifer cycling
a combined 394 miles round Windsor, and 8-year-old Ava running 52.4 miles in one month! Well done and thank
you to these wonderful young supporters. Altogether they raised £3,350!
Sunflower Walk
The Sunflower Walk on 6 June 2020 was a great success. Thank you so much to everyone who joined in. There were
200 of you from all over the country walking in memory of a loved one. We even had some supporters walking in the
USA and Australia! More than £17,000 was raised – thank you! You can help us raise even more money at our Santa
Dash, a remote fun run for all the family.
Find out more online at: thameshospice.org.uk/santadash
Thank you
A huge thank you to our wonderful Fundraising Groups and clubs such as the Rotarians, 41 Clubs, Tangents
and the Masons who have been supporting us throughout this crisis from donating scrubs and face masks, to
sponsored walking and fundraising.
We received a magnificent donation from Reckitt Benckiser, via the Berkshire Community Foundation, as part of their Fight for Access
Fund. This will support our new hospice and Covid-19 patients, should we need to allocate an Inpatient Unit wing temporarily in the
future. Thank you.
Tractor Run
The Royal East Berkshire Agricultural Association (REBAA) and Thames Hospice teamed up to raise funds for
our new hospice. On Sunday 23 February 2020 a truly historic procession of over 100 modern and vintage
tractors took part in the Tractor Run. Progressing through East Berkshire from Winkfield, through parts of Fifield,
Moneyrow Green, Holyport and finishing on the Long Walk in Windsor Great Park. This was a truly spectacular
event which raised £25,000 – thank you so much to REBAA for making this happen.
If any of our events or stories have inspired you to organise your own fundraising event, please call Alison Evans on 01753 848963.
6

Light Up a Life is a chance to remember
loved ones who are no longer
with us. This year in particular is
especially poignant. The coronavirus
pandemic has had a huge impact on
our community, with many families
experiencing sadness and loss. Light
Up a Life gives these families an
opportunity to remember their
loved ones.
Our Light Up a Life campaign raises
vital funds every year. Donations given
in memory of loved ones helps us to
support patients and their families
through the challenges of a
terminal illness.
Simon Smith, Head of Patient and
Family Support, who leads our Light Up
a Life service each year says: “Here at
Thames Hospice, we help people
with a terminal illness to experience
quality of life to the end of their lives.
This also means taking care of their
family and friends too. We help and
support spouses, partners and siblings;
children who have lost their mum or
dad; parents who have lost their son
or daughter. Donations received in
memory of loved ones will help us to
continue lighting up the lives of our
patients and their families at what can
be one of the most poignant times of
the year.”
As social distancing remains in our lives
for the foreseeable future, this year’s
Light Up a Life service will be livestreamed
from our new hospice on 13
December 2020 at 7pm.
We are inviting our whole community
to take part in their own homes to
remember and celebrate the lives
of all those we have lost. The muchloved
annual service will include music
and Christmas carols. There will be
thoughtful poems and time to reflect
and to cherish the joy and brightness
that our loved ones brought into
our lives.
Our stunning Christmas Tree will
be decorated with hundreds of
lights dedicated to all those we
are remembering. There will also
be an opportunity to come to the
new hospice and place a dedication
card on the Christmas tree ahead of
the service.
Anyone who wants to join us at home
can request a service pack, including
an Order of Service, a candle and a
‘dedication star’ to hang on your own
Christmas tree.
For more information visit
www.thameshospice.org.uk/
LUAL2020
Upcoming events
We all need something exciting to look forward to, so why not take on a
challenge of a lifetime whilst supporting Thames Hospice: The Arctic Survival
challenge, 7–14 February 2021. Experience the thrill of this harsh and beautiful
environment in the Swedish Arctic as you test your survival instinct and
discover new skills such as constructing (and sleeping in!) snow holes and
traditional shelters, husky sledding, snowmobiling and much more. To find out
more please visit www.thameshospice.org.uk/arctic
7

hristmas
for people living with life-limiting illnesses in
Berkshire and Buckinghamshire.
Thames Hospice
Cis around the corner!
Christmas Wreath
Christmas Carols
Thames Hospice is the local charity providing expert care
A vital part of our work is also supporting their families and carers.
Windsor Road, Maidenhead SL6 2DN
Tel: 01753 842121
www.thameshospice.org.uk
Charity No. 1108298
Festive Cheer
Festive Cheer
Festive Cheer!
Printed in the UK Tel: 01268 684054
XQ0052dTHS
Christmas Past, Uxbridge in Winter
Sparkly Tree
Eton Bridge in Winter
2 colour
Twin Pack
Choir Boys
Snowman Fun and Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Winter Robin
Nativity
Twin Pack
Woodland Bambi
Christmas Noel
First Day of Christmas
We Three Kings
Christmas Snowman
Christmas Stockings
Penguins in the Snow
8

We are delighted to present our 2020
Christmas cards!
This year we have a brand new range of cards that are environmentally
friendly with no filter, foil or glitter. Each pack starts from just £3.00.
Our Christmas card range includes our bespoke and exclusive Windsor designs
alongside a selection of pretty local scenes.
Castle Street, Windsor at Christmas
How to order
Long Walk in Windsor Great Park in England
In store – available to buy now in your local
Thames Hospice shop.
Find your nearest store at
www.thameshospice.org.uk/shop-with-us
Online – at www.shopno23.org
St Georges Chapel
Introducing Shop No.23
Shop No.23 is our brand new online
shop. Treat yourself or a loved one
to something special from a range
of new clothes, handbags, jewellery,
gifts and homeware, including
our fantastic range of Christmas
decorations.
Drummers Drumming
Every purchase you make at Shop
No.23 helps us continue to support
and care for local families facing
a terminal illness.
Shop online today
and make a difference.
Visit www.shopno23.org
9

VOLUNTEER
CORNER
Welcoming new volunteers
Since our shops reopened there have been a number of wonderful new
volunteers join the team. We spoke to them to find out what motivated them
to join us and how they have found the experience so far.
Our volunteers are vital and without their support we would not be able to
deliver the income we do to support the care and work of the Hospice.
If you have a few hours to spare to volunteer in our shops we would be
delighted to hear from you.
For more information and to apply:
I am enjoying every aspect of
being part of the team and
learning about Thames Hospice.
The customers are friendly and
it's really rewarding knowing
all our efforts support such a
worthy cause.”
Shelley, Sunninghill Shop
Pop in to your local Thames Hospice shop
Email our Retail Volunteer Manager at
louise.jones@thameshospice.org.uk
Visit www.thameshospice.org.uk/applyonline
Being able to volunteer at a local
store has been brilliant, it’s clear
what the branch means to the
community. It’s great to use my
time to help out and equally to
meet new people and become part
of the local community.”
Stretching out my regular
weekly shopping visit to a
3 hour shift was no great
hardship, in fact, I’m really
enjoying being on the
other side of the counter.”
Jane, Woodley Shop
I have been made so welcome,
going into the shop is a pleasure,
especially after the period of
forced isolation. It has been
nice to re-engage with the
community, and unite in helping
such a worthwhile cause.”
Laura, Windsor Shop
Rhaynukaa, Sandhurst Shop
The staff and
volunteers have been
friendly and made
me feel welcome as
part of the team.”
Carolyn, Henley Shop
I decided to give my time
to the Thames Hospice shop,
as I have had experience in
the compassion, kindness
and love given to patients
in hospices.”
Vivien, Wokingham Shop
Join us as a volunteer in
our new hospice
As our new hospice opens, we are on the search for
new volunteers to join us in a variety of roles, including
Drivers, Café Assistants, Yoga Instructors, Therapeutic
Gardeners and many more!
For a full list of our current opportunities
and to apply:
Visit www.thameshospice.org.uk/
currentopportunities
Email volunteers@thameshospice.org.uk
10
Call 01753 848945

Where there’s a Will there’s a way...
to support the Hospice
Very soon we will move from
our beloved Pine Lodge
to our new hospice that will
represent all the care we have
provided for over 30 years, as
well as building a newer and
brighter future. We will be able
to give care to so many more
families at a place designed
with, by, and for the people
we serve.
As we reflect upon the past and look
to the future it has been fantastic to
ask you, our donors and supporters,
how you feel about Thames Hospice.
We sent out a survey to a few of our
supporters in June and had some
great responses which taught us a lot
about what you want to hear from us.
A huge thank you to everyone who
participated, this is what we learnt:
• Two thirds of you who responded
had a relative cared for by Thames
Hospice.
• Many of you think we should do
more to inform the public that
most of our funding comes from
community donations rather than
the NHS.
• Half of you thought we should talk
more about the importance of
Gifts in Wills.
Did you know that even a modest
sum left in someone’s Will can make
a huge difference to the work we can
do. You agreed Gifts in Wills are not
just for rich people and that leaving
a modest sum or even 1% of your
estate to a cause that changed their
life or inspired them makes a huge
difference.
Gifts in Wills funds four
of our inpatient beds
Also, two thirds of you prefer to be
contacted by email. Please email
intouch@thameshospice.org.uk if
you wish to receive your next edition
of InTouch via email.
A huge thank you to everyone who
participated in this survey and we
hope to make sure our outreach and
fundraising reflects the advice we
received.
Right: Nurse Bridget
and Judith
Get in touch
Email intouch@thameshospice.org.uk
Call us 01753 842121
Visit www.thameshospice.org.uk
Follow us
Charity
No. 1108298
11

Join your community for our remote festive dash on
Sunday 6 December 2020. Get sponsored to walk or
run 3, 5 or 10k, whether it’s at your local park, gym or
even in your living room!
thameshospice.org.uk/santadash