Christopher Eyes' Interview Summary

Christopher was born in 1953 and was appointed Chief Executive of the Hospice in July 1998. He had previously reached a senior level in NHS management before moving to be Deputy Director of an AIDS Hospice in London. He took over from Leslie Jell. He knew Julian Pedley, Lady Duncombe and John Moyle amongst others. He oversaw the refurbishment of the buildings, and the expansion of homecare, specialist palliative care, bereavement counselling and the role of the chaplain. He explained the importance of fundraising in the context of tightening NHS budgets and the uncertain flow of legacies. He retired in 2008.

He was impressed by the friendliness from the start. He thought the Ascot Days, Lights of Love and fairs were fantastic and remembered people hiding their chocolate when he did his rounds. His favourite VIP visit was by Kathy Staff (Nora Batty in Last of the Summer Wine). He remembered declining barring politicians looking for election photo-opportunities. His proudest achievement was that he left a ‘really happy team’.