Dedicated Birmingham Hospice staff and volunteers have had their commitment to supporting end of life and palliative care recognised after being invited to Garden Parties at Buckingham Palace.
Amy Ison, John Ridd, Jai Muldoon and Jean Devenney enjoyed a once in a lifetime experience by attending the parties, which honour the efforts of a broad range of people from all walks of life who have made a positive contribution to their communities.
These special events are full of memorable moments, where guests walk through the Palace gates, explore its beautiful gardens and sample a delicious afternoon tea.
Members of the Royal Family then meet and speak with those attending, while military bands play in the background.
“The gardens were stunning, absolutely beautiful and the flowers were so pretty,” said Therapies Lead Amy, who saw HRH Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales at the party she attended.
“It was a really special day and a privilege to represent Birmingham Hospice, I really enjoyed it. This is something you can only do once, so it created memories that will last a lifetime.”
Guests are invited to attend through a network of Lord-Lieutenants, Societies and Associations, Government Departments, the Services, Church and other faiths.
For Hospice at Home healthcare assistant Jai, it was a special moment to see King Charles mingle with guests.
“There was such a wide range of people who were there, different age groups, different backgrounds, it felt very inclusive and I felt comfortable.
“The Royal Family has always been in our lives, so it was quite surreal to see them in person.
“My mum has always been a huge fan of King Charles because they both love the comedy of Spike Milligan, so it was special to see him.”
Retail Area Manager John Ridd added: “It was an amazing experience and an honour to be part of such an occasion. It was also an absolute privilege to be one of the representatives from Birmingham Hospice.
Meanwhile Jean, who has been volunteering in The Hive café and reception at our Selly Park hospice site since 2023, said: “It was so lovely, people from all walks of life were there, from different charities and from the military. There was a great atmosphere from start to finish.
“It was a once in a lifetime experience and I feel very honoured that someone at the hospice nominated me to attend.”
