Peter, of Liberty hall Road, Addlestone, has been volunteering for the Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospital NHS Trust for more than a year. He has the responsibility for keeping the 166 notice boards at both hospitals up-to-date with patient information and leaflets; visitor and staff information; Trust news; local community information and jobs and vacancies. He comes into the communications department at St. Peter’s at least twice a week and uses the Hospital Hopper bus service to travel between the two buildings.
Said Peter: "I only started volunteering at the age of 62, as I was not in paid employment and wanted something to give my life a little more direction. I was looking for an activity that would give me much needed exercise as I had a history of cardiac problems and this was recommended by my GP. I first approached the volunteer’s manager at St. Peter's and after looking at several options I opted for the Communications Department, looking after the various notice boards at both St. Peter's and Ashford. I walk every corridor and climb every staircase at both hospitals about twice a week, in addition I like to cycle the two and a half miles each way from my home.
“In the Comms Dept. I have meet a fantastic team of people who have made me feel really wanted and a valued member of the team, I like to think of them as friends and we all get on really well together. Being a Volunteer has given my life an added purpose and I hope to be able to carry on doing it for many years to come. I would definitely say that men from all working walks of life would find something of interest and value to do as a volunteer in a hospital setting.”
Peter had a 30-year career with BT before spending 10 years with the American Community School at Cobham in the office administration team for the support services department. His wife, Kathleen, retired last year as a St. Peter’s Hospitaltelephonist - but still keeps contact as a “holiday relief.”
Outside work Peter and his wife, Kathleen, are members of St. Paul’s Church, Addlestone and Kathleen is a volunteer flower arranger and Peter volunteers for outdoor jobs including the newly seeded and turfed grass. Peter has another volunteering role as his road’s co-ordinator for the West Addlestone Resident’s Association.
Said the Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals volunteer’s manager Karen Marsden: “We have more than 500 volunteers working in our hospitals, and we cannot thank them enough for all that they do. Our volunteers have a huge variety of skills and talents that are put to good use every single day of the year – and some evenings too! Some work behind the scenes in offices and others enjoy the patient contact with ward work or reception duties – the scope for them is enormous. There are very few aspects of hospital life that do not benefit from the support of a volunteer. The WRVS, the Red Cross, Hospital Radio Wey and the two Leagues of Friends at Ashford and St. Peter’s are the backbone of our volunteering service and at this special time of year we like to thank them all publicly for their unstinting support.”
To find out more about volunteering at the Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals NHS Trust readers can call Karen Marsden on either: 01784 884227 or: 01932 723239.
