Shine a light! Volunteer Sue brings wit and wisdom to our Wellbeing Centre patients

Sue with outpatients HCA Cheryl

Twice a week, Sue Shone (pronounced like ‘scone’, oh no, that’s not a good example, ‘phone’ is better), volunteers in our Wellbeing Centre with the Wednesday morning check in and chat group and the Friday coffee morning, craft and baking groups.

She’s full of energy and quick to check with people whether they need a refill, a biscuit or a slice of cake. She’s also someone good to chat with, to listen, to pass the time of day and quick with a smile and a laugh.

These characteristics would have been an asset in her days as an officer with the Merseyside police even though, obviously, it wasn’t always just a kind word that would do the trick.

In 29 years in the force, 17 of those in Wirral, Sue had her fair share of CID experience and other challenges to help keep our streets safe.

She even made the pages of the Wirral Globe after saving the life of a man having a heart attack in the McDonald’s in Birkenhead. A link to the story is here https://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/7436383.officer-praised-for-saving-life/

Sue on far left when Sally Nugent visited the hospice

Wow! Well in, Sue.

Towards the end of her service, Sue was working with former offenders to help get them back on the straight and narrow. She really wants people to do as well as they can.

Volunteering at the hospice is only one string to her bow since retirement. Sue signed up for hospitality hosting at the Aintree Grand National meeting (definitely for the posh seats as Princess Anne was a guest), she’ll be doing the same at the Open golf at Royal Birkdale and before that she’s invigilating at Birkenhead 6^th Form College during their exams period.

Busy Bee!

Sue on Wirral Coastal Walk with Alex

Sue has volunteered at the hospice in various roles for the last nine years.

General duties: where volunteers help the catering team by delivering meals and drinks, maybe exchanging a word or two with patients and families and cleaning up afterwards.

Hub Café assistant: supporting the staff serving customers with a smile and (famously for Sue) maybe selling them up on a Friday with a bacon or sausage sandwich.

Wellbeing Centre volunteer: joining in the fun and games and making people a cuppa as support to the staff nursing and health care assistance team.

She met partner, Alex, who often joins Sue on her charity walks for the hospice, on a blind date twenty-seven years ago and she describes him with a smile,

“He’s tall and a really kind grandad!”

Sue will once again take part in the Wirral Coastal Walk, on Sunday 7^th June this year, alongside Wellbeing Centre volunteer staff friends, Ashley and Liz.

Last year she walked with volunteer colleagues Pauline and Sandra, (whose stories we have shared before) and . They all like to make a nice contribution to hospice fundraising through their efforts.

Thank you all, ladies.

Sue on the right of Wellbeing Vols Sandra and Pauline

Sue told us,

“I absolutely love the hospice. Meeting patients is a constant joy and inspiration.

They’re often facing huge challenges, so we try to make the time they spend here as everyday as possible.

And, fun. Everyone likes to laugh.”

They sure do Sue, and you help them in that regard all the time.

Thank you for everything you do for Wirral Hospice St John’s.

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.