History buff Steve combines his hospice volunteering time with local research

Steve Ashurst has volunteered for Wirral Hospice St John’s for over ten years now and it’s safe to say he’s one of the good guys.

The hospice had only been open for 18 months, when Steve’s brother, Rob, was supported in the original inpatients ward and Steve recalls visiting him and seeing the specialist care he received. Then, some eight years later, in 1993, his dad, Ronald was also cared for on the inpatients ward, following his diagnosis with stomach cancer, before being discharged home where he had expressed his wish to die.

Sad times for Steve and his family but the hospice has left a lasting impression on him.

Steve is Wirral born and bred and after several years, from the late 60’s to mid-70’s, working in London for a firm of stockbrokers he returned home to Moreton where he’s lived ever since.

Various jobs in imports/exports and logistics locally took up the bulk of Steve’s working life until he was able to retire from the famous Burton’s Biscuits factory in Moreton, just over ten years ago.

It was when walking past our Moreton shop around that time that Steve thought he would ask if there was any way he could help by volunteering for the hospice that had helped his dad and brother all those years ago.

He was signed up ASAP and spent the next eight years helping the shop grow its revenue year after year.

Around two years ago, and seeking a different challenge, he’d asked if there was any chance of using his volunteer time at the main hospice site at Clatterbridge and soon after he joined fellow volunteer, Elaine, on the kitchen/ward general duties team every Wednesday.

General duties volunteers are a massive help to the staff team, delivering meals and drinks to our patients and clearing/cleaning all the crockery and cutlery ready for the next meal and/or drinks time.

Steve told us,

“All the people I’ve met, staff and volunteers, are just fabulous. They’re generous and genuine.

Volunteering really does make you feel good and, having experienced hospice care first hand myself, I feel like we’re giving something back to help make a difference.”

Steve keeps himself busy with long walks, he also visits up and down the country with his other brother and sister’s families who live in Essex.

He also likes to spend quality time with his lovely friend, Daphne, who he met while volunteering at our Moreton charity shop and they’re off on a round Britain cruise taking in France and Holland soon so, Anchors Aweigh!

He’s also interested in local history. He’s found out that a battle, known as the Battle of Brunanburh, is reputed to have been fought on the Wirral (around Bromborough) and it was the defining battle in how the then seven kingdoms settled on becoming one country, England!

It was the year 937, a little bit before our time, but Steve is infectiously enthusiastic about it,

“Where we’re sitting now,” Steve points out of the window, “It was round here that England was fought over and a little while later, established, (allegedly – but many historians agree). Can you believe it?”

Yes we can Steve, and here’s another little bit of history for you, on June 3^rd you will receive your ten-year hospice long service award, and we hope you will feel as proud to receive it as we are to award it.

Many thanks Steve, your commitment to Wirral Hospice St John’s is greatly appreciated.

If you’d like to volunteer at the hospice or in your community at one of our charity shops follow the links at www.wirralhospice.org/volunteering or email volunteering@wirralhospice.org or call 0151 334 2778 and ask for volunteer services