The People Behind our Purpose: Get to know our Board of Trustees

At the heart of our Hospice lies a team of ten dedicated individuals – our Board of Trustees. They generously volunteer their time and expertise to govern our Hospice, working tirelessly to provide leadership, oversight and guidance, ensuring our Hospice operates smoothly and fulfils its mission of providing compassionate end-of-life care.
We caught up with a few of our Trustees to ask them what, in their opinion, is the best thing about being a Trustee at The Prince of Wales Hospice.
In each of their stories, it’s clear to see these individuals are incredibly passionate about our cause and decided to become a Trustee to give back to their community.
 
Simon Topham says:
“The best thing about being a trustee is the way it opens your eyes to a whole new world.
My day job doesn't involve working in a clinical environment and so everything is new and strange for me but also this means I get to learn so much. I also hope that some of the experiences I bring will help the Hospice.
Being a trustee of the Hospice makes you appreciate the real things that make up a 'good life', including having a 'good death' - something I don't think I'd quite taken on-board before.”
 
Brynton Parkes says:
“My wife and I moved to Castleford in 1971 with a young 3-year-old son and soon to be another one in 1972.
I always involved myself in the family life and became a Governor of the local schools the children attended and the Cubs and Scouts and such like as they grew up.
I have always wanted to give something back to the community in which we lived and who had given us such a wonderful life together. When a work colleague invited me to come along to the Hospice with a view to becoming a Trustee I welcomed it. When I was nominated as a Trustee in 1998 I was delighted and have enjoyed participating in the running of the Hospice ever since.
It has always been a challenge and an enjoyable one but I do feel a sense of pride in helping others. Now I am also involved in ensuring the care I have helped to provide will be continued and so will my involvement. It has always been, and continues to be, a pleasure to work with everyone in the Hospice. I also know that my work is helping others and that is why I continue to act.
It is a very big responsibility, but a very great pleasure, to carry out my work as a Trustee and would recommend it to others.”
 
Ann Gleed says:
“I have worked in our Hospice since the first day in 1989 starting with two patients and I have been a Trustee for many years too.
As you may guess I have seen many changes over this period of time and one thing which has never changed is the specialised and loving care given to our patients and their families. I am so proud of the work we do, which is as you know is exceptional and the caring and dedication of the staff and volunteers is second to none.
I have talked to many patients and their families over the years and always been impressed by their thanks and praise. I have great pride working in our Hospice and great pride in all those who work inside and out to make The Prince of Wales Hospice such a special place.”
 
Steve Dibb says:
“I have had no experience in working in healthcare, and end-of-life care was most certainly well outside my comfort zone.
In my short time I have learned so much about what the Hospice provides and what it means to our local community. I also realise I have so much more to learn, in a good way.
Behind the people in our community the Hospice cares for with their stories, varied lives and loving families, we have a structure of dedicated volunteers and colleagues. They are in retail, catering, front of house, fundraising, estate management, administration, management and clinical care. The list is not exclusive or order of importance and I am pretty sure I may have missed many out (for which I apologise(!))
I still have many people to meet and stories to hear. I am proud to be a part of an organisation that has already shown me so much passion, dedication, enthusiasm and professionalism to provide care, compassion and dignity for all our service users of the varied services the Hospice provides. It is a privilege to be a trustee.”
 
Ruth Roche, our Deputy Chair, says:
“I have been a trustee at The Prince of Wales Hospice for 10 years and thoroughly enjoy being part of such an amazing organisation. Having been a GP for nearly 30 years, I know how important the hospice is to patients and their loved ones.
Being a trustee is a volunteer role, but is very important for the safe and efficient running of the hospice as a charity and as a healthcare setting. I would highly recommend being a trustee or volunteering in any way you can.”
 
Gordon Tollefson, our Chairman, says:
“From my own position (which is somewhat different to all of my colleagues) I and a now deceased colleague set up the Hospice in the first instance in 1981 and launched a Steering Group in 1982. There's only one reply I can give you and that is 'passionate to see it continue flourish after 40 years and it's a big thank you to all those who have been involved throughout those years, in many different ways, supporting the care of our patients'.”
 
We are incredibly grateful for our dedicated Board of Trustees. Their generosity in volunteering their time, expertise, and passion is invaluable in helping steer our Hospice, uphold our mission, and better serve patients and their families in our community.