Kate Beamish's Interview Summary
Kathleen was born in 1937 and first became involved with the Hospice when she saw an advert for a cleaner. She applied and got the job and started work two weeks after it opened. She remembers the Sister, Jean Moore and Lady Rachel Duncan scrubbing floors and remembers there being lots of volunteers doing various jobs including fundraising and starting the Willen Shops. The Hospice was a tranquil place and Kate loved cleaning and helping the patients. Over the years she worked herself up to be Housekeeper. Kate can remember the farmhouse and land before the Hospice existed and before Willen Lake was constructed and was pleased when the land was donated for the Hospice. She also remembers a cookery book being published with volunteers’ recipes which raised much needed funds.
Kate also remembers a few celebrities coming to the Hospice including Princess Diana, Kevin Whately and Kathy Staff but mostly her memories are of happy times and making lots of friends but acknowledged that sometimes it was emotionally difficult especially when Kate lost friends at the Hospice.
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