Planting flowers as a thank you to hospice

Volunteer gardeners Cheryl Fitton, Jenny Swindells, Laura Walsh, Nick Pollard, Frankie Thompson and Oli Robinson with some of the flowers they planted at the hospice. (s)

The volunteers spent a day digging over flower beds, renovating fences and generally tidying up the grounds around the in-patient entrance to the hospice.

They were taking part in the annual 3M Global Volunteering Day together with colleagues from the science-based technology company’s sites around the world. Last year employees from more than 80 locations carried out voluntary work in their local communities.

The Clitheroe manufacturing site makes valves and components for asthma inhalers and the hospice was chosen as a thank you for the care it provided to Derek Threlfall, the father of the company’s business development manager Laura Walsh.

“It’s a remarkable place,” said Laura, who was among the volunteer gardeners. “My dad passed away there two months ago, at the age of 76, and his family are so grateful for all they did for him.”

For more than 30 years, East Lancashire Hospice has continuously provided a special way of caring to people suffering from life limiting illnesses throughout Blackburn, Darwen, Accrington and Clitheroe.

The volunteer efforts were supported by donations of plants and paint from Clitheroe-based businesses, Holden Clough Nursery and Jeff Parker Plastering and Roofing.