Mark is proud to be a part of Willow Wood’s legacy

Mark Llewellin DL first became connected with Willow Wood through his late partner, comedian and actor Roy Barraclough MBE – long before the Hospice was even built.

“We moved into our house on Willow Wood Close 31 years ago this year, so I’ve been involved with the Hospice for around 29 years,” Mark, who is now a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, told us.

“Kathy Staff, who played Nora Batty in Last of the Summer Wine, had been asked to go to Dukinfield Town Hall for a public meeting for people who thought there should be a Hospice. I think Kathy couldn’t make it so Roy was asked instead. Roy became the first-ever patron of the Hospice and Kathy became the second.

“The idea first was that the Hospice was going to be built in the grounds of Tameside Hospital. But there was so much interest and money raised that the size of hospice would no longer fit the site, so we could afford bigger than we hoped for.

“It just happened to be built in the road that me and Roy lived in. There was a competition to name the Hospice which was popular and Willow Wood was the chosen name.”

Mark has supported and raised awareness of the Hospice ever since, from holding talks and putting on shows to writing for magazines and organising fundraisers at Daisy Nook Garden Centre, where he is Joint Managing Director.

Willow Wood was also there for him when his partner Roy, who forged a memorable TV partnership with comedian Les Dawson before playing Rovers Return landlord Alec Gilroy in Coronation Street, died in 2017.

“It all happened very fast in truth, Roy died in the Hospice but he was only there for around eight hours,” said Mark.

“Although the care we received at the hospital was very good, being told your partner is going to die in the middle of a corridor surrounded by strangers is not very dignified so we went from that very noisy, machine-filled public environment to the quiet enclosed environment of the Hospice.

“I have a great love of the gardens at Willow Wood for a number of reasons but that night, being able to go out there was the biggest benefit.”

Being asked to take over Roy’s patronage as well as become a Trustee of the Hospice were proud moments for Mark, who has since stepped up to become the Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees.

Explaining what that role involves, Mark said: “I deputise when our Chair, Philip Millson, is unavailable to chair meetings. I also chair the fundraising sub-group and attend as many events as I can too. It’s very nice to have this role.”

Mark is very proud of his long association with the Hospice and always enjoys talking to people in the local community about Willow Wood.

“I’ve worked with lots of different volunteers and supporters over the years and there’s barely a day goes by at the garden centre where someone doesn’t come in and wants to chat to me about the Hospice,” he said.

“The Hospice’s services are far-reaching and because it’s an emotional contact, people have that feeling for the Hospice which is different to any other type of organisation really.

“As part of my day-to-day job, I probably talk to 150 to 200 groups a year on a range of topics from my life to Coronation Street but I always mention the Hospice if I can. Often people will donate money because of that. For me, it’s great to go out in the community, talk to so many people and say that I support Willow Wood.”

As Willow Wood celebrates 25 years of patient care, there are two particular elements that make the Hospice personally special for Mark.

“Physically it’s about the gardens which I love and I often go up there of an evening when nobody is there and sit there. But in terms of the organisation, it’s the people – whether it is the staff, the volunteers or people who use the services.

“They are what make the organisation and the places – not just the Hospice but the shops, the Distribution Centre and the PAD – what they are.

“The Hospice was built with love and runs with care. It will continue into the future because people love it and need it. It would be nice to live in a world where hospice care isn’t needed but we don’t so thankfully Willow Wood is here for our whole community.”

It’s a challenging time for the hospice sector but Mark is optimistic that, with continuous adaptation, Willow Wood can remain a beacon of support and compassion for years to come.

“I am looking forward to working with our new Chief Executive Officer, who I’m sure will take us into a new chapter,” he said.

“Ultimately we have to remember why we’re here, what our purpose is and how we’re supported, through our local community, so that may mean adapting services or looking for other sources of income.

“Trustees are volunteers too and we feel that responsibility, spending money wisely is really very important to us. We only survive at the behest of our community.”