She wrote to The Northern Echo, Darlington and Stockton Times saying: “When chatting to a group of friends, we all thought how marvellous it would be to have a hospice in Darlington.” The meeting hall was packed. A movement was born, and Nigel was there at the beginning of it inspired by his Auntie Anne’s fundraising efforts.
When Nigel recently popped in to see us, he brought with him a lifetime of memories: thank-you letters, fundraising stories, and a memoir of his work with our Bereavement Team. We sat down with him and asked where it all began. “To celebrate my 40th birthday I organised a sponsored walk with a cousin and two policemen friends,” he recalled. “We raised £700 that day. I suppose that was the start of it all. My late Auntie Anne who planted the seed that I should organise a sponsored walk”
Walks turned into more walks, donation boxes multiplied, and, year after year, Nigel brought in thousands. Even the collection box in his own hallway has continued to collect £1000s over time.
There were personal reasons, too. Sadly, Nigel lost his first wife Liz, on Christmas night just nine days after the birth of their son. That profound loss led Nigel to join the hospice’s Bereavement Team, as a volunteer, offering the same comfort and compassion he had once needed himself. Sharing with us “I felt and still feel honoured, privileged and rewarded during my role as a companion sharing so much of someone’s life, hope, fears, laughter and sadness.”
Later, Nigel was asked to step into another important role; night security and porter at St Teresa’s. For six years, he kept quiet watch over the hospice, always ready with a listening ear or a beautiful act of kindness. “I remember one lady came in at 10pm,” he said. “She asked for a gin and tonic. So, I got her one, served it on a tray. She told me it was the best she’d ever had. She passed away just a couple of hours later.”
There was another woman too, one who asked to see him before she died, just to say goodbye. “I wished her a safe journey,” he said softly. “And then she was gone.”.
Even after his official retirement in 2010, Nigel has never stopped and was awarded Honorary Life Membership of St Teresa’s Hospice in 2015. Alongside wife Wendy there have been Elvis nights and bake sales, street fairs and sponsored runs. Wendy once baked a hundred cakes for the hospice and, for their ruby anniversary, they asked for donations instead of gifts, raising over £400.
Now, as we look ahead to 40 years of care, we’re reminded of the power of people like Yvonne and Nigel, of Wendy and Ann, and of everyday heroes like you, those whose unwavering kindness ensures St Teresa’s Hospice is there for the next family, the next patient, the next goodbye.
Because you care, we can.
