Stroke Club members help Winchester Hospice with memorial show of support

A LEGACY donation in memory of a Winchester Stroke Club treasurer has delivered a generous show of support for Winchester Hospice.

Marigold Paul and seven fellow members of Winchester Stroke Club were delighted to present a £600 donation after raising the money in memory of June Munns, a former member and treasurer who passed away nearly two years ago.

Former nurse Marigold was joined for the cheque presentation in front of the Winchester Hospice appeal fundraising thermometer, at the entrance to Royal Hampshire County Hospital (RHCH), by members of Winchester Rotary Club, who have been stalwart supporters of the stroke club for many years.

Marigold said: “We are delighted to make this donation in memory of June, who was a member of Winchester Stroke Club for more than 15 years. It is fitting that just as June did at the stroke club, this memorial donation will make a significant difference to the Winchester Hospice fundraising campaign.”

Marigold started Winchester Stroke Club in July 1988 and has been the driving force behind it for 33 years. The maximum number of members was 26 at any one time, and there are many stroke survivors in the Winchester Area that have Marigold to thank for her help and encouragement at difficult times. 

The club has met for afternoon tea and table top games each Friday at the Village Hall in Otterbourne for the past 20 years, but unfortunately the COVID-19 pandemic has put a stop to that for the past eight months. 

 Marigold, who is now 85, trained at the RHCH. She went on to work at the Victoria Hospital in Alresford Road until it closed and then returned to RHCH Butterfield Ward, nursing stroke patients. It was during this time that Marigold recognised the need to assist stoke survivors when leaving hospital – and in 1988, the Winchester Stoke Club was formed.

Marigold left RHCH later that year and became Deputy Matron at St John's Winchester Charity at the almshouses in The Broadway.  She subsequently worked at Devenish House in Southgate Street Winchester and eventually retired in 2001. She now enjoys living in Weeke with her daughter and son-in-law, surrounded by their pet cats and dogs 

Paying tribute to Marigold, Winchester Rotarian Robert Parsons said: “As far as Winchester Rotary is concerned, all our members that have known her are very fond of Marigold, Anyone who gives so much time to help and assist others , over so many years, has gained the admiration of us all.”

The national lockdown caused by the pandemic meant work had to be halted on transforming Burrell House, on the Royal Hampshire County Hospital site, into Winchester Hospice in March. However, workers from Reside Construction have been back on site since the end of May and have been pressing ahead with the construction.

Winchester Hospice will be run by Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Its palliative care team have been a driving force behind the ambitious project as they know how important it is to have a local hospice facility that will help, support and care for the people of Winchester and the surrounding area.

Winchester Hospice will be the hub for specialist palliative care, providing inpatient care for up to 10 patients, as well as a host of outpatient and community support for people in their own homes.

 For more information, and to donate, visit www.winchesterhospice.com or call the Winchester Hospice fundraising team on 01962 828353.