Enjoying the team banter
St Luke’s Hospice – Electrical Store
Doing good is fun and so Charlie joined the volunteer team at St Lukes’s Hospice. He retired 9 years ago andmissed the camaraderie and banter that’s part of team membership. Initially he worked as a driver, but then changed his role. He now works in the hospice’s Harrow Weald store dedicated to electrical equipment. An ideal place for someone who has worked all their life in technology sales.
“The staff and volunteers are a group of terrific people” Charlie said. “There’s an awful lot of satisfaction working with nice people. I enjoy my time and the team spirit that the work entails. I’m also amazed at the generosity of the donors”
The shop PAT tests all the equipment donated to ensure its safety.
St Luke’s Hospice – first encounter
Charlie’s first experience of the hospice was with the antics of an awkward neighbour. Peter, who lived alone and had cancer, needed treatment but when the ambulance arrived to take him to hospital he refused to go. He insisted that he would only go to St Luke’s. Ambulances don’t normally take patients to a hospice but somehow they were persuaded. When Charlie visited Peter he told him how wonderful the staff were. Peter said “they asked me, if there was anything I wanted and when I replied – a pint of Guinness….thats what they brought!!
Charlie remarked “the people who work at the hospice are exceptional. They go far beyond the norm to help their patients. I get a great deal of satisfaction knowing that every time we sell an item on Ebay or at the hospice shop it helps their work to carry on.”
Career and background
Brought up in Dollis Hill, Charlie attended the local grammar school and when he married he and his wife moved to Belmont. The arrival of children encouraged them to move to Pinner attracted by the friends they knew in the area, the schools and the local parks.
After 40 years working for Panasonic in business-to-business sales Charlie retired. He has never looked back and has no regrets about his decision to leave. He still sees many of his old work colleagues at the occasional reunions. Not only does he see old workmates but from time to time he gets together with former school chums.
Charlie is a family man with three grown up children and grandchildren that are his pride and joy.
How you can help
St Luke’s Hospice always needs volunteers and whatever your skills there is a role for you. Without the work of the volunteers collecting money, working in the shops, keeping up the gardens, online support and much more, the charity would find it difficult to continue their wonderful work. So click on the link above and see how you can help.
Discover more
Find out about many more volunteers Learn about their their stories, their motivations and how they help the community. Follow the links on this page.