Retired primary school teacher Brenda keeps main reception in very good order

Visit Wirral Hospice St John’s reception on a Tuesday morning and you will be greeted by the welcoming smile of our longstanding volunteer, nineteen years this year, Brenda Richardson.

She has a definite twinkle in her eye and is always on hand to help.

In her time here she has seen the redevelopment of the main buildings, including the inpatients ward, and the modernisation of all that hospice care means.

She is always keen to impress upon others that the hospice is different to how many people perceive it.

She told us what she thinks of the hospice in her own words.

“The wraparound care provided to our patients and their loved ones is truly heartwarming.

Smiles and fun are an important feature of life at the hospice, and I feel privileged to volunteer here.

Occasional visits from musicians, instrument players and singers are a highlight and I remember bringing an hour of line dancing to the Hub café which was so well received by patients, staff and volunteers too.”

Brenda trained as a primary school teacher and  it wasn’t too long into her career when a student, Jon, studying for his PGCE was introduced, as part of his training, to Brenda’s class.

At the time Brenda, surrounded by forty reception pupils, was bathing the class guinea pig, a job she inherited from her predecessor. It wasn’t love at first sight, but something was sparked because once this chap had qualified, they started dating and 50 years of marriage later they’re still happily telling their story.

Brenda and Jon worked voluntarily while in their full-time careers at the Thursday Club, a weekly social club for adults with learning and physical special needs, held at the Cavendish Centre in Birkenhead. Lively chats, games and discos were all part of the fun.

Brenda took a career break when son Mark and soon after daughter Kate was born.

Various schools have benefited from Brenda’s expertise. She further trained as a special educational needs teacher and while she was working at the Royal Liverpool Children’s Hospital school she remembers, in 1977, when the children were excited (nearly as much as Brenda) to receive a visit from Liverpool FC (hers and Jon’s team) stars Emlyn Hughes and Kevin Keegan with the newly won, European Cup!

Born in Birkenhead, her dad was a publican and stewarded a few different pubs around Merseyside. She loves where we live, Wirral and Liverpool, embracing all the region has to offer.

In 2008, when Liverpool was crowned European Capital of Culture, Brenda volunteered for many events throughout the year. This included supporting firefighters from around the world in the World Firefighter Games!

Brenda started volunteering at the hospice in 2007 and, as well as her reception duties has also given a helping hand at various hospice events and bucket collections down the years.

Thank you, Brenda, for helping us to make all of our visitors feel welcome at the hospice.

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.