Hospice Welcomes Lord Lieutenant as New Patron

The Hospice of St Francis is pleased to announce that the Lord-Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, Robert Voss CBE, has become a Patron for the charity.

Mr Voss, who was awarded a CBE for services to British Industry and voluntary work in the UK in the New Year’s Honours List of 2014, is Patron and President of a number of local and national charities, and has been a supporter of the Berkhamsted-based Hospice for some years. He has visited the Hospice on a number of occasions on both a formal and informal basis and also gave the thank you address to dinner guests at a recent 40^th anniversary dinner at Hatfield House.

At a Caribbean Women’s Standing Conference Gala Dinner auction last year, organised by Hospice Association Member, Linda Haye DL, OBE, he successfully bid for a pastel painting created in 2004 by the late Hemel Hempstead-based artist Christine Hillier, which was the sister to one already hanging in the charity’s Inpatient Unit.

Afterwards, he generously gifted the painting to the Hospice so the two could be reunited and they could, in his words “bring pleasure to patients, their families and everyone who visits.”

Mr Voss said this week, “I am delighted to become a Patron of The Hospice of St Francis. I have known the wonderful St Francis team for some time and have greatly admired their dedication and the care they have for their patients and their families. The atmosphere around St Francis is one of love and support and I look forward to helping build on that ethos.”

Earlier this month, the charity, which is celebrating 40 years since it was founded by a small group of dedicated volunteers, was honoured with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK. This will be presented to a representative group of volunteers at the Hospice in September by Mr Voss.

Kate Phipps-Wiltshire, Hospice CEO, commented: “Securing Mr Voss’s support couldn’t come at a better time for our Hospice. We are celebrating 40 years of helping people live their precious lives well this summer yet need everyone’s help in fortifying us for future generations – both in terms of supporting our funding, instigating new collaborations and ensuring outstanding hospice care is a reality for those that need it.

“Robert is passionate about raising the profile of the Hospice movement within Hertfordshire, already setting up a Hospital and Hospices panel, and is committed to doing what he can to help us start conversations and spread the message about the important role Hospices play in our county and across the UK.”