Life is better in the garden. Volunteer gardener Kay is a natural growth agent.

Kay tending to the hospice garden

Kay is one of our fabulous, five years and counting, volunteer gardeners.

Kay Kevin is her full name which brings countless bemused looks when “Kevin, Kay” is called into doctors, dentists and other appointments and Kay, with a knowing smile, stands up to greet the person waiting for Kevin. HaHa!

Kay with some of the gardening vols team

She takes everything in good heart and this great quality is why, without any officialdom, her volunteer colleagues, more often than not, will approach Kay for advice, or for where they might make a difference that day in the hospice gardens.

She will receive her five-year long service award in June, and it is so well earned.

And, what a job Kay and the team do. The hospice garden is a place of both vibrant colour and peaceful calm for patients and their families to take a breath of fresh air in, especially when the sun is shining.

Kay is proud to be a volunteer hospice gardener and she told us why,

“My husband Brian had been living with stomach cancer for around two years, having previously recovered from kidney cancer which had resulted in him losing one kidney.

As the disease progressed it was increasingly difficult to be Brian’s full-time carer. When we were eventually referred to the hospice inpatients ward for pain management we felt immediately uplifted.

Kay and Brian on The Orient Express

I remember clearly Doctor Emma (now the hospice’s medical director) saying to me, ‘we’re going help you to stay being Brian’s wife and not his carer.’

The hospice was wonderful and despite everything, enabled Brian and I to still share laughs remembering our happy life together.

We’re both from Salford originally and met in the swinging ‘60s at a dance night. There was no alcohol, but the music was great.

We married in 1970 and a few short years later our boys, Nick and Chris, were born.

Brian had been a chief engineer in the merchant navy but eventually came onshore to be a superintendent for the ‘merch’ based in Castle Street in Liverpool.

Wirral was to become our forever home bringing up our boys, living a regular family life, taking our caravan for holidays in the UK, but also out to France, to the Loire Valley, the Dordogne and even a most memorable holiday around Lake Geneva in Switzerland.

A trip on the Orient Express for our Silver Wedding was also an outstanding memory.

Kay with sons Nick and Chris

Happy New Year

The boys are now happily married, Nick to American wife, Kirsten, lives in Orlando and Chris is closer to home in Wirral with wife, Sarah, and my wonderful grandchildren, Isla and Thomas.

Brian and I were still enjoying holidays right up until he became unwell.”

Kay was with Brian for several weeks at the hospice until he sadly died here in 2009. She continued,

“In all honesty it took me several years to adjust to my life without Brian, but the love of family and friends helped me through.

And, just over five years ago I saw a social media post that the hospice was looking for volunteer gardeners. I love my own garden and thought that I might be able to help in some way.

I felt I could make a solid contribution to the hospice that had been so kind and caring to Brian and I.

Cream Tea with the Irene’s

Another Cream Tea? HaHa!

I just love it. At first there was only long-time volunteer, Ron, and I. (The hospice has had volunteer gardeners throughout all of its forty-three years but sadly had recently lost people to illness and retirement).

The gardens were lovely, but it became apparent that we would need more hands to stay on top of the load so, I asked volunteer manager, Phil, if we might advertise to bring a few more vols on board.

Nowadays we have Amy, Anne, Geoff, Gill, Irene A, Irene B, Ron, Val and me. We’re a great team and will, from time to time, also meet off site for lunch or afternoon tea.

Some of us are also now members of Wirral Ramblers which means we can plan some local walks of interest and also sometimes further afield. Last weekend we were in Holmfirth in Yorkshire which was quite an ascent but with some breathtaking views.”

Well done Kay. Keep seeking seek out ice-cream wherever you go, whether that’s in Florence or Parkgate. Kay loves ice-cream!

You’re a true hospice inspiration. Thank you so much for helping to make the gardens look so splendid.

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