Willow Wood Hospice is inviting the local community to a Fun Family Open Day at its Clearance Outlet and Donation Centre in Ashton-under-Lyne.
It’s taking place on Saturday 26th April from 10am to 3pm at the Hospice’s shop at Unit 4 on Langham Street, off Oldham Road (postcode OL7 9AX). On-street parking will be available.
The event promises to be a jam-packed day of activities for people of all ages to have fun, grab a bargain and learn more about joining the Hospice’s team of volunteers in its growing retail operations.
For your little ones, there will be face painting, free goodie bags for the first 50 children, and an opportunity to meet Hospice mascot Woody the Bear.
To keep you refreshed, there will be ice cream, cakes and more available to buy. Plus, there will be a raffle and a tombola – with a chance to win some fab prizes!
Paul King, Warehouse and Logistics Manager, said: “Our Clearance Outlet opened in October last year as a ground floor retail space and we have already received lots of fantastic feedback.
“We would love to welcome new customers, so bring along your family and friends to have some Saturday fun, pick up a bargain and support patients from your local community with a life-limiting illness.”
Lisa Pye, Volunteer Services Manager, added: “We’re excited for what promises to be a brilliant day. As well as a chance for families to enjoy some springtime fun, anyone curious about volunteering opportunities at the Hospice and our charity shops will be able to find out lots more information.”
Anyone who would like to find out more about the Fun Family Open Day can email volunteering@willowwood.org.uk or call 0161 330 1100.
Seven students from Ashton Sixth Form College have spent some of their time volunteering recently in our Willow Wood Hospice charity shops.
Ahmed Cali, Adam Dixon, Armaan Hussain, Oliver Hutchfield, Nathan Nyoni, Alexandra Serban and Maurice Owhonda Utchay generously gave their time to support our retail operations.
The seven of them, all second-year A-Level Business students, gave a combined 350 hours volunteering at The Purchase and Donate (PAD) in Stalybridge, as well as at our Waterloo and Ashton-under-Lyne shops.
The students had to complete 40 hours of work experience each as part of their course, but they all ended up doing 50 instead – between 24th February and 3rd March.
Ahmed and Maurice volunteering at our Ashton town centre shop
Adam, 18, from Dukinfield admitted he didn’t know a lot about the Hospice beforehand. However, he learned a lot more during his time volunteering, including that the income generated from our charity shops directly supports patient services at the Hospice.
Adam commented on his time working at The PAD in Stalybridge: “It was fantastic. It helped me improve my confidence and other skills like communication and time management.
“When the delivery van came in, I helped move all of the sofas and cabinets into the store, and I carried items from the store into the van to deliver to customers. I also put donated items onto shelves and helped customers when they needed support.”
The work of the students not only supported the Hospice’s shops, but it also gave them opportunities to build their skills and gain more work experience.
Adam being interviewed at Ashton Sixth Form College by Ciaran Greenwood during his placement with the Hospice’s Communications team
Adam further commented on his future ambitions, seeking entrepreneurial goals: “I want to start sharing, like going into investments and start going from there. So just get a job somewhere, save up money and start investing it into various businesses.”
He enjoyed it so much that Adam is continuing his volunteering at Willow Wood, working at The PAD on Fridays during his free periods at college. We wish him and the rest of our amazing student volunteers the best of luck in their future endeavours.
Willow Wood Volunteer Services Manager, Lisa Pye, had this to say about the students’ efforts: “We are very thankful for the amazing support that the students at Ashton Sixth Form College have given us. Volunteers are vitally important to help support the work that Willow Wood Hospice does. We’ve had fantastic feedback from the retail managers about all of the hard work they have done, and we hope they enjoyed it and taken something from the experience.”
If you want to learn more about the volunteering opportunities that are available at Willow Wood Hospice, please visit www.willowwood.org.uk/volunteering to express your interest.
Willow Wood Hospice has warmly welcomed four new members to its Board of Trustees.
The group were sworn in at the Hospice’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Tuesday 28th January.
Their recruitment follows an appeal last summer for skilled and experienced people to help shape the future of the Hospice, which provides specialist, compassionate and dignified care to patients with a life-limiting illness from Tameside and Glossop.
Phill Brown MBE is a Tameside businessman and entrepreneur who has chaired boards at Tameside Council, Active Tameside and Tameside College, as well as served as a trustee for the Stockport County Community Trust.
Julieann Carter is a qualified nurse whose career in healthcare has spanned both clinical care and management across hospitals, community settings and hospices. She was honoured to be named Marie Curie Nurse of the Year for England in 2000.
Chris Hinds has lived in Tameside over 45 years and runs his own marketing and web design consultancy in Glossop. Alongside his wife Joanne, he has volunteered at the Hospice since 2009 and helped to raise tens of thousands of pounds.
Karen Richardson has spent nearly 40 years in nursing within Greater Manchester as a Staff Nurse and Ward Sister before specialising as a Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialist in Palliative and End-of-Life Care and, more recently, moved into commissioning and service transformation.
(from left to right) Trustees Liz Needham, Paul Schofield, Martin Willescroft, John Maltby, Philip Millson, Phill Brown MBE, CEO Tracy Minshull, Steve Flanagan, Chris Hinds, Julieann Carter and Karen Richardson.
The quartet of new trustees join as Timothy Jackson assumes the role of the Chair of the Board, succeeding Philip Millson, who has stepped down as Chair but will continue to serve as a trustee.
Timothy said: “I am proud to take on the role of Chair, working alongside a dedicated team of trustees and senior management who each bring expertise to support our mission and vision.
“I look forward to continuing to ensure our services remain equitable, timely and tailored to meet the needs of our patients and those closest to them.
“The collective passion, collaboration and commitment of everyone at the Hospice truly makes Willow Wood a special place.”
Timothy Jackson, the new Chair of the Board
Tracy Minshull, Chief Executive Officer of Willow Wood Hospice, commented: “I would like to sincerely thank Philip for his valuable leadership as our Chairman over the past four years and we are grateful to have his continued support as a trustee.
“I am delighted to welcome Timothy as our new Chairman and introduce our four new trustees, who each bring a diverse range of skills and experience. This will be vital as we continue to provide compassionate care to our community while evolving to meet future challenges and opportunities.
“They join at an exciting time for the Hospice as we finalise our new five-year strategy, which has been shaped by our workforce – our staff, volunteers and trustees.”
Trustees are crucial to the work of Willow Wood. With their support, scrutiny and challenge, the Hospice is able to grow and operate effectively.
Working on a voluntary basis, they ensure the organisation’s strategic direction, governance and financial sustainability. Trustees also act as ambassadors for the Hospice out in the community.
Willow Wood needs at least £3.6 million every year to run and, with only around 21 per cent of that amount coming from the Government, the Hospice relies heavily on the generous support of the local community to continue providing its essential services.
Seventy per cent of those services are provided by Willow Wood’s Community Services teams – in the Hospice, based in Ashton-under-Lyne, and in a patient’s own home.
For Sue Fagan, Willow Wood Hospice means so much and is “part of my life”.
Sue, who lives nearby in Ashton-under-Lyne, has been a friendly face on Reception on Wednesday afternoons since May 2022.
She has also given the gift of her time to supporting our Wellbeing team and Inpatient Unit (IPU) team.
Sue, who has two children and two young grandchildren, first became connected to Willow Wood when her partner of 16 years, Wolf, was admitted to the IPU in 2019.
“We were nursing Wolfe at home and then one of the Macmillan nurses said we could get him a place at Willow Wood,” she explained.
“We were a little hesitant about Wolf coming to Willow Wood at first, but he became better mentally and even said I should get a job here one day!
“He sadly passed away at the Hospice and then Covid came. I applied to go on the ward, there weren’t any vacancies at the time but I was asked if I wanted to go on Reception.
“I didn’t fancy it at first but I did it and started working with Verrien. We had mutual friends so we got on really well and I love it.”
Sue, who is now semi-retired, has developed plenty of skills during her varied career – from being a nurse and an Office Manager at an accountancy firm to a qualified reflexologist and now does some part-time admin and sales work for a jeweller, Oscar and Olivia.
She feels her public-facing role has improved her understanding of the Hospice’s values and the extent of the services we provide.
“You get to know everyone at the Hospice as they come and go,” Sue told us. “I’m really glad I am on Reception because I feel like I really know what Willow Wood is all about now. I know there’s more to it than the Inpatient Unit.
“Over time, I have learned to know what tone to take in certain situations which I think is important. You know when you can tell a bit of a joke to someone, you know when it’s a bit more serious and you know when it’s a sad time.
“People recognise you from the Hospice – I spoke to a lady in Marks & Spencer who remembered me from Reception.
“We have a WhatsApp group where we can manage the rota ourselves and arrange cover for each other if needed, which is great. I feel part of a friendship circle.”
Sue is a friendly face on Reception on Wednesday afternoons at the Hospice
The plethora of different duties that Sue is trusted with on Reception is what she enjoys about the important role.
“One minute you’re answering the phone, the next minute you could be speaking to a patient and then you could be selling something in the Reception shop.
“I love the buzz and the variety of the role. My time as an Office Manager has helped me multi-task.
“I feel sometimes if I have said something to somebody that made them have a more positive day or made them feel a bit more comfortable or made them smile, it is all worth it. I remember how I used to feel when I walked through the door of the Hospice when Wolf was ill and it is nice to always be greeted so warmly.”
Sue has seen the value that volunteers like herself bring to the organisation.
“On Reception, we are the first face people see when they walk through the door. Volunteers are so important to Willow Wood. What I have realised is all the volunteers have come from really good backgrounds with lots of different skills from different professional roles.”
For Sue, giving back financially by attending fundraising events is important but giving her time is even more precious.
“When Wolf was at the Hospice, he thought it was a private hospital and that we were going to receive a bill,” she said.
“I told him it’s free and that the Hospice would get paid back. I feel like I am giving back not just for me but for him.
“For his funeral, we asked for donations and raised £800. Our families have also supported fundraising events like the Butterfly Memory Release – my granddaughter loves this event.
“I would recommend volunteering to anyone because it’s not just about what you do, you meet the other volunteers, you make friends and become part of the Hospice family.”
Two of our dedicated volunteers experienced a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity at Westminster Abbey this Christmas.
Eileen Smith was nominated by Mark Llewellin DL, Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, to be part of the congregation at this year’s ‘Royal Carols: Together at Christmas’ service.
Eileen was accompanied by fellow Flower Festival committee member Christine Lucas at the service – which shone a light on around 1,600 individuals across the UK who have shown love, kindness and empathy towards others in their communities.
It’s the fourth successive year that the Princess of Wales has hosted the heart-warming seasonal event – one of the biggest appearances of the year so far for Kate after she confirmed in September she had completed her cancer treatment and would be easing back into royal duties.
Eileen – from Stalybridge – said it was “an absolute privilege” to be part of the occasion and she was “very humbled and very grateful” to have been invited.
“Mark rang me up and asked if he could nominate me to go to the Princess of Wales’ Carol Concert in London,” she explained. “He said I might not get a ticket but he chose to nominate me because of all the work I have done for the Hospice, including the Flower Festival.
“So I said yes, of course! I got an email about 10 days later from Mark’s office to tell me I’d actually got an invitation. Christine is also very active on the Flower Festival committee, so she was an obvious person to come with me.”
Eileen (right) and Christine outside Westminster Abbey
For Eileen and Christine, the experience of their day in the capital was truly magical.
“We went down on the train and we had to be at Westminster Abbey for 3.30pm so we booked a hotel near the Abbey, had some lunch and got ready,” said Eileen. “People were queuing up and you couldn’t get anywhere near the Abbey unless you had a golden ticket.
“There was a steel band there playing carols and they were giving out mince pies. When we went inside, it was just so beautiful and it’s a huge building. It was the first time I had been and it was just so wonderfully decorated, with lights everywhere and a stunning Christmas tree. You could write a message and put it on the tree.
“There were a lot of famous faces you see on TV there, so we were star spotting! We were in the knave near the door so we could actually see the Prince and Princess of Wales come in with their little ones. We recognised Zara Tindall and all of the Royal Family, who came in first.
“We all had a candle which they lit for us. Greg Porter started off by singing a carol and Prince William gave a speech. We sang carols and there was a lovely service. We waited for the Royal Family to disperse and then we went outside into the darkness, where all the lights were on and it was just so lovely.
“I’ll remember it for a long time. I’m framed my invitation and I’ve got a programme from the service. The Princess of Wales also wrote a letter to everyone who attended thanking us for coming and for everything we do.”
The service took place at the world-renowned Westminster Abbey
It’s an experience Eileen will relive when the service airs as part of a special hour-long programme on Christmas Eve (24th December) on ITV1 and ITVX at 7.30pm.
She first started volunteering for Willow Wood on the Reception desk when the Hospice opened in 1999 and, after taking a gap when she opened a nursery, continued her support through fundraising.
“I was really interested in fundraising for the Hospice and when it opened was a time in my life when I needed to volunteer so I wanted to give something back to a charity. Since it’s opened, I’ve known lots of people who have needed the services here. It’s a lovely place and it feels like the right place for me to be.
“Dot [Birchfield] asked me first if I could help out and then John [Fellowes] approached me one day to see if I knew anyone who could take over the running of the annual Flower Festival. I used to do some arrangements for it so I took it on. We started it in 2015 and we have raised around £66,000 so far.”
Eileen also helps to keep the shop in the Hospice Reception stocked up and recently took part in Willow Wood does Strictly as a dancer.
She also decorates a Christmas tree on behalf of Willow Wood at the Albion Church in Ashton-under-Lyne every year.
“I enjoy supporting the Hospice and I’ve done a bit of everything which all helps in some way,” she added. “I’ve been to Ascot Ladies Day fundraisers and the Grand Balls down the years. When I had the nursery, we used to sponsor a table at the Ball.”
The cover of the service programme (left) and Eileen’s official invite
We are delighted to have recently seen an increase in the number of students choosing to undertake a placement at Willow Wood Hospice.
Christina applied for a counselling placement with us as part of her studies at Tameside College, working towards becoming a qualified counsellor.
“I knew Willow Wood offered counselling, and I thought, where better to do it than here? I honestly couldn’t have been happier with the placement,” said Christina.
“It’s been an excellent environment for my placement, and the Family Support team has been incredibly supportive.
“I was interviewed by Callie [Head of Community Services] and Sarah [Senior Family Support Counsellor] and I remember walking away thinking ‘I really hope I get this.’ You just know when something feels right. I was over the moon when Callie told me I’d been offered the placement at Willow Wood.”
After completing her placement, Christina continued to volunteer at the Hospice, describing the experience as overwhelmingly positive.
She explained how pivotal the placement had been in supporting her journey to qualification.
“Every hour spent with a client is a learning opportunity – you can’t help but grow. I’ve developed as a counsellor here, thanks to the ongoing support and guidance from Callie and Bethan [Family Support Lead]. That support has been there every step of the way, both as a trainee and now as a qualified counsellor.”
“I’d known about Willow Wood before my placement, having taken part in the Midnight Wander, and through friends who had shared their positive experiences when loved ones were cared for here.
“When I first started my placement, people would often comment on how sad it must be, and yes, it is difficult watching someone experience the pain of losing a loved one. But it’s also incredibly rewarding to know that I’ve played a part in supporting that person through such a challenging time. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to work with the clients here. It’s truly been an honour.”
Christina (centre) with Callie Harrop (left), Head of Community Services, and Bethan Creighton, Family Support Lead at Willow Wood Hospice
Christina described Willow Wood as ‘a wonderful place doing vital work for the community’.
When talking about the wider organisation, Christina felt Willow Wood has been ‘one of the most positive places I’ve ever worked at’.
She added how the team excels at making a difficult time more manageable. “The Hospice staff are deeply committed to their work, and it’s inspiring to see so many volunteers from the community involved too. I’ve really felt like a valued member of the team.”
Christina’s passion for counselling stems from her desire to help others through the toughest times of their lives, and Willow Wood provided the ideal setting for this. “I’ve worked with children and young people for the past 12 years, and I love what I do. Being able to combine this experience with counselling has been an incredibly enriching and insightful opportunity for me.”
Christina also works as a Programme Development Manager for the charity Power2, which supports children and young people to thrive. She has been with the organisation for over 12 years, where her role involves designing and writing programmes to help young people at risk of not reaching their full potential.
“I’m thrilled to be completing my next placement at Power2, working with young people facing mental health challenges. It means a great deal to me to be able to complete my placement at a charity that I know does such incredible work with children and young people.”
Callie Harrop, Head of Community Services, said Christina has been a real asset to the Hospice’s Family Support team.
“Her warm, friendly nature and her passion for good outcomes for those she works with has been a joy to observe,” she said.
“Whilst on placement and through volunteering, Christina has supported a number of people including patients and family members of those who have accessed Willow Wood services, and has received some fantastic feedback about the relationships she has built and the impact the counselling has had for those she has supported.
“Whilst we will miss Christina on our team, we wish her all the very best for her future studies and next steps in her career and know that anyone lucky enough to meet Christina as a counsellor will have a positive experience.
“We are always so grateful that individuals choose to spend their placements with us and always aim to provide a supportive and inclusive environment for our Trainee Counsellors, with guidance when navigating a caseload, a chance to reflect on their sessions and the offer of training, supervision and learning opportunities to enhance their placement offer.”
When asked if she would recommend a placement or volunteering at Willow Wood to others, Christina’s response was simple: “100%! I’ve already spoken to my previous college tutor and told them I’d highly recommend Willow Wood for counselling placements.
“I honestly couldn’t recommend it enough. It’s been an incredible placement – it feels like you’re really giving something back, and that’s something I think is really important.”
Willow Wood Hospice welcomes students on medical, nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and counselling placements.
On Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day, the local community will fall silent to honour the servicemen and women who risked their lives in conflicts around the world for our freedom.
This period of Remembrance is particularly poignant and significant for our Hospice volunteer Rhoda Hendry, whose uncle Jack died in the Second World War.
For the third successive year, Rhoda has created a special Remembrance-themed display in the window of the bric-a-brac room at our Purchase and Donate (PAD) shop in Stalybridge to commemorate the occasion.
“I was born in 1937, two years before the Second World War started, so I spent many a night in an air raid shelter,” Rhoda recalled.
“My father’s youngest brother was 21 years old when he was killed in Belgium. He’s buried in Leopoldville, which we went to see as a family and it’s a magnificent place. Jack’s name is also etched on the Cenotaph in Ashton.
“Remembrance does mean a lot to me because they gave their tomorrow for our today. It’s important to reflect and remember every year.
“People don’t realise what those men and women sacrificed. It’s unbelievable to think what they must have gone through because they didn’t have the equipment in the early parts of the war that we have nowadays.”
Rhoda has created the display for the third year in a row
Rhoda – who has siblings who also give the gift of their time to the Hospice – will be paying her own respects on Remembrance Sunday at the ceremony held in Stalybridge.
She takes pride in what’s on view in the window at The PAD, recently creating a spook-tacular Halloween display and will soon be putting together a festive-themed one.
“I have never had any tuition in dressing windows but I have worked in shops before during my career,” Rhoda explained.
“People walk past and look at it or come in the shop and say nice comments about the window displays. If you can’t do something with 110 per cent of effort, don’t do it at all, is my motto.”
The 87-year-old spent around an hour on her Remembrance window – she made the poppy wreath herself and her daughter contributed the soldier silhouettes.
The framed photograph and story of how a Stalybridge resident gave up their home during the war to become a hospital for injured soldiers to recuperate was donated by Peter from Providence Furniture in Hyde, who is a supporter of the Hospice and has a keen interest in the Royal British Legion.
The display is in the window of The PAD shop on Shepley Street in Stalybridge
Rhoda, who lives in Dukinfield, has been volunteering for Willow Wood since 2006 – which is her way of giving back after her husband received end-of-life care at the Hospice.
“John died at Willow Wood in 2001 and I will never be able to repay the staff for what they did for him,” she said.
“I stayed at home for five years and then I thought I have to do something. I started at the Grosvenor Street shop in Stalybridge and have never looked back really.
“I now help out for three days a week at The PAD and I love it. I take great joy when I go home at the end of the day in seeing how much money we have raised for the Hospice.
“My sister Patricia and my brother Terence also volunteer for the Hospice too. Patricia helps to clean the bric-a-brac room at the PAD.”
An inspirational teenager from Ashton-under-Lyne organised her own event to raise a phenomenal £3,800 in support of patient care at Willow Wood Hospice.
Neev Patel put on a special celebration at Ashton Rugby Club in June, attended by more than 100 people.
The 15-year-old, who is in Year 11 at Hulme Grammar School in Oldham, has felt a connection with the Hospice from a young age and volunteers at our Waterloo shop at weekends.
She has always wanted to hold a fundraising event for Willow Wood and the opportunity arose one day at school.
“As part of a Higher Project Qualification (HPQ) we could write a 2,000 word essay on a topic of your choice or create an artefact – like someone in an older year group restored a Volkswagen,” Neev explained.
“I thought I’m not going to be boring so I pitched the idea to my school supervisor of doing a charity event and he thought it was amazing!
“I found a venue, organised a buffet, I contacted a balloon lady for decorations and emailed lots of businesses for raffle prizes. I got a £200 Booking.com voucher and a four ball at The Mere in Knutsford amongst others.
Neev hosted a charity event to raise funds for the Hospice
“I invited lots of people, it was £5 a ticket for entry – which all went towards the total amount raised for Willow Wood. We had an auction on the night – one person paid £300 for one of the prizes. It was a really lovely night, it was successful and I really enjoyed it.
“Everyone who attended had the same initiative to spend money knowing it was going to a good cause. My family and friends came and I also reserved a table for the staff and volunteers I work with in the Waterloo shop, who all had a good time.
“I did a speech on the night, I said they were there and thanked them. They received a massive round of applause which was really nice.”
Neev’s mum works in the local healthcare system and has established connections with staff at the Hospice, which is how Neev was introduced to what Willow Wood is all about.
“My mum is a nurse working in Hattersley so she knows a lot of people including Wendy, from the Dementia Support team at the Hospice who I’ve got to know well,” said Neev.
“I’ve always known the Hospice and people that Willow Wood has helped including my grandad. I started raising money when I was quite young, around 10 years old, and we have always been to events like the Christmas Fair.”
Neev has been supporting the Hospice since the age of 13
Neev initially started volunteering for the Hospice as part of her Duke of Edinburgh award when she was 13 years old – helping out at the Waterloo shop on Saturdays.
“I was supposed to do an hour a week for three months and I did four hours a week for two years! I still volunteer there now and I don’t think they want to get rid of me any time soon!
“I really enjoy it, it’s something different and I feel like I am giving back. I sort through donations, price them up and put them in the shop. I go through the clothing rails, I sometimes work on the till too, I do a bit of everything really.”
Neev loves the people most about volunteering and has become a popular member of the team at our shop on Oldham Road.
“Whether it’s the volunteers or the customers, it’s nice to have a conversation with people and I have got to know them,” she told us.
“People will come in and we can have a laugh as we go along. As volunteers, we all know we are there for a purpose and you feel wanted there.
“My fellow volunteers will message me asking how my day was in the shop when they’re not there and I have formed a really good connection with them.”
Neev with shop manager Kellie and some of our volunteers at the Waterloo shop
Willow Wood could not provide vital services without volunteers, who have a positive impact on our community, and Neev would strongly recommend volunteering to other young people in particular.
Explaining the benefits to her, she said: “You grow as a person, you get more social skills so I can talk to anyone about anything now. I understand the way people live their lives and their opinions on things a lot more. I have gained a lot from it and learned new skills which are great for my CV in the future.
“I have become friends with some volunteers from the shop who are in their 70s and I have learned from them.”
Neev has aspirations of becoming a marine biologist in the future and is also keen to continue charity work and supporting the Hospice, around her important studies.
“Willow Wood is just a lovely place,” she concluded. “Everyone is so lovely and you can get on with anyone.”
With an eye for quality and a passion for discovering hidden history, our Glossop shop volunteer Stella Quinn knows a thing or two about jewellery.
During her Friday and Saturday afternoon shifts, Stella meticulously processes donations of bric-a-brac and jewellery, pricing them up and stocking them on the shelves.
She was sorting through one particular bag of costume jewellery donated recently when one item immediately stood out, much to her excitement.
“I just happened to come across an oval locket, it was absolutely stunning,” explained Stella.
“It could have possibly come from a house clearance. I noticed straight away that it was a much older item.
“I know about jewellery and collect some myself. It was just so unusual. The rim was gold metal but not hallmarked.
“It was a miniature of a sailor and his love, with a ship in the background and he’s handing her a bag of money. On the reverse was plaited hair, which was the norm for a love token. It would have been the hair of your best beloved. The couple were in typical Georgian dress in the painting on the front of the locket.
“It was probably earlier than the Victorian age because the style of the dress is Regency and it wasn’t a mourning item because they were almost always black. Victorian jewellery would tend to be black often with plaited hair, based on items worn by Queen Victoria.
“It wouldn’t be something that you could really wear in this day and age, unless you’re dressed for it. But it’s a great item for a collector.”
The love token, around two inches by 1.5 inches in size, is believed to be from circa 1820 to 1840.
The front (left) and back of the locket that was donated to our Glossop shop
Recognising there could be more to the locket than meets the eye, Stella decided to explore online to see if she could get an auctioneer to value it – and her endeavours were worthwhile.
“I discovered Adam Partridge Auctioneers and Valuers, based in Devon, and they were really enthusiastic about it.
“They gave it a basic valuation of between £150 to £200 and also said that they don’t charge charities commission which is really good. They were exceptionally helpful.
“They said anything of that age, like a miniature, would be painted on ivory so we had to get an ivory exemption certificate which for the size of the locket was around £20. They sold it for us and we got £100 for it which was fantastic. I didn’t have a reserve on it, so that was fine.
“It was a real learning curve because I hadn’t taken anything to an auction house before. I certainly would consider it for future donations.”
Stella, who lives in Simmondley, has volunteered in our Glossop shop for around six years.
The former teaching assistant, who worked with students with special educational needs for around 30 years, wanted to support the Hospice after our teams cared for her husband when he was ill.
Stella finds great joy in using her inquisitive mind to really make a difference.
“You never know what you’re going to find when you open a bag of donations and that’s the beauty of it,” she shared.
“In any donation, you can find a piece of silver or occasionally gold. You can’t discount it so you’ve got to look – I always carry a little lens in my pocket, just in case.”
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