EVH Newsletter Spring 22

Being in the
hospice made a
hard time easy.
Earlier In 2017 Brian Duffell spent his final days in
the hospice and his wife Margaret and the rest of the
family were blown away by the care, support and
friendliness they were shown by all the Eden Valley
Hospice team. Brian’s stay in the hospice allowed
Margaret, family and friends to make memories that
will last for the rest of their lives.
In Margaret Duffell’s eyes, Eden Valley Hospice was
responsible for giving her family the greatest gift
possible when her husband Brian was dying... time.
Brian died at the hospice in December 2017 and left
behind an incredible legacy following his decades of
service to Armstrong Watson accountants, his many
years playing in a band and his football coaching. But
it was Brian’s mantra of “the best thing you can give
anyone is your time” which his family were incredibly
thankful for in the last few days of his life, as this way
of living his life had come full circle in the hospice.
“That was Brian’s expression and that’s what we got,
it came true for me,” Margaret said.
Brian and Margaret’s story begins back in 1961 while
they were both working at the tax office. They hit it off
at a Christmas party – at which Brian was both playing
in a dance band with his dad and organising the event -
and started going out. Two-and-a-half years later they
were married and had two children – Mark and Anita.
In the following years Brian moved on to work at
Armstrong Watson as Tax Manager but despite being
a leader at the accountancy firm and being busy
with musical and sporting commitments, Brian was a
committed family man and most loved spending time
with his children and five grandchildren.
It was in December of 2017 that Brian came into the
hospice following a cancer diagnosis earlier that year,
having already lived with Alzheimer’s for the two
years beforehand. His giving of time wasn’t the only
thing which came full circle for Brian at the hospice.
He’d grown up in the Harraby area of Carlisle and was
assigned the ‘Harraby’ room in the adult ward.
Margaret says: “Once we got in, you didn’t really have
to think, everything was done for you. He was looked
after, I didn’t have to do anything, I was able to just
be his wife. We couldn’t speak highly enough of the
staff, they really were absolutely fabulous.”
Although the situation was extremely tough, Margaret
cannot speak highly enough of the care the hospice
provided to Brian and his family. The hospice allowed
the family to make some final memories together, a
particular one being Brian’s grandson Nicky coming in
to open his 18th birthday presents and share cake.
“Being in the hospice made a hard time easy,”
she adds.
“They left me on my own if I wanted to be, but they
would constantly pop in to make sure I was OK.
You wouldn’t get that in a hospital, I know the staff
there can’t, but the staff here have such a lovely way
with them, so caring, so thoughtful. It’s a very special
place.
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www.edenvalleyhospice.org