“I never meant to stay this long” - Sue’s 33-year journey as a Hospice volunteer

When Sue first walked through the doors of the Hospice, she didn’t intend to stay - let alone become one of its longest-serving volunteers. She was simply there to arrange flowers.

“I belonged to a flower arranging group,” she explained. “We were asked if we’d be happy to do an arrangement, and I said yes. I walked in to do the flowers, and when I came out, I was a volunteer - and I still don’t quite know how that happened!”

That spontaneous beginning marked the start of what would become a remarkable 33-year commitment to care, compassion, and community.

At the time, Sue was working full-time, so Sunday shifts suited her lifestyle. The Hospice was small then - just nine beds, two shared wards, and one en-suite room. The garden was little more than a table outside, and weekend volunteers were scarce.

“I was often the only non-medical person on-site,” she recalled. “The volunteer was responsible for opening and locking up, switching off lights, hiding the keys in a secret spot, and making sure reception was tidy for the next day.”

But there was far more to it than that. “We did everything - reception, the inpatient unit, emptying dishwashers, doing laundry and making tea for visitors.”

She chuckled as she remembered ironing at the reception desk. “We’d be ironing while answering the phone! Everyone who came through the door was offered tea and biscuits on a tray with a little doily. It was just the way things were done.”

Sue also helped entertain children visiting the Hospice and ran the small gift area in reception. “We had candles, gift cards, books and there were no computers, sophisticated phone systems, electronic sign-in or cash tills. We relied instead on paper and pen for everything and our "till" was a little black tin. And patients would come by to browse our gift area or have a chat. For those who didn’t have many visitors, it was a lovely bit of connection. So many interesting conversations happened there over the years.”

Despite her demanding job, Sue remained a consistent presence, often covering evening shifts she affectionately called “the Late Show” - 5 to 9 pm.

“At half-past six, you had to lock everything up, sort things out, and then move to the inpatient unit. It was nonstop.”

Over the years, the Hospice evolved. In 2002, a major extension was added, bringing nine more en-suite rooms and a beautifully landscaped garden.

“It was such a big change,” Sue said. “Suddenly, it felt more suited to the level of care people needed. Before that, wards shared bathrooms and the garden barely existed.”

Sue had the unique privilege of being present during two royal visits: when Queen Elizabeth II visited in 2002, and again in 2022, when the Queen opened the new Hospice building.

Volunteering, it turns out, runs in Sue’s veins.

“I suppose I’ve always been a bit of a serial volunteer,” she admitted. “I was on the playgroup committee, the school committee, the WI committee, the flower club… I just liked to get involved.”

She also supported the Hospice’s early fundraising efforts, helping to organise the much-loved summer fair. “We used the Windsor Girls’ School field and always ran the bottle stall - it was very popular! Apart from donations, that was it for fundraising in those days.”

What has remained unchanged, she said, is the impact the Hospice has on people.

“A lot of visitors appear very nervous when they first arrive. They hear the word ‘hospice’ and think the worst. But when they leave, they often say, ‘What a wonderful place.’ And it is. It really is.”

“I never meant to do it as long as I did,” she said with a smile. “But it just felt right - and it still does.”

After 33 years of unwavering commitment, Sue’s legacy is one of warmth, dedication, and community spirit - proof that even the smallest acts of kindness can blossom into a lifetime of impact.