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The Rosemary FoundationThe Rosemary Foundation

Hospice at Home Autumn 2012 Newsletter

It is with great sadness that I find myself writing this tribute to Lyn Blackman, a dear friend, who lost her brave fight for life on 26 June.

Following the closure of Bordean House, the Sue Ryder Hospice at Langrish where she had worked for many years, Lyn became one of the founder members of The Rosemary Foundation and subsequently served on the Board of Trustees.

Lyn brought a wealth of knowledge and skills to the Foundation both in clinical and managerial matters, and in fund raising, of which she was our co‐ordinator. The latter was very close to her heart; she believed that no matter how small the event, each deserved one hundred percent effort. And that she always gave. Often, after a long day’s work at The Rowans Hospice where she was Matron’s secretary, Lyn would then work at home on Rosemary Foundation business until the early hours.

Coffee mornings, fetes, quizzes and cream teas at East Meon village hall will never be quite the same without Lyn, where she would be found in the kitchen cooking bacon rolls after having produced a wonderful array of cakes, quiches and preserves for the much loved cake stall. She was a wonderful cook, another of her many talents.

Lyn’s health deteriorated over the last few years but her determination and generosity of spirit never faltered in her dream for The Rosemary Foundation to grow and move forward. I know I can speak for everyone who knew her and say just how much we all admired her for her ability to carry on, even when at times it took tremendous strength of mind and fortitude to do so.

Dear Lyn your kindness, sense of humour and that amazing `giggle’ will always be with us. I hope you have put your feet up in heaven and are now enjoying a large slice of chocolate cake, and if you have had any hand in the making of it, it will be FANTASTIC just like you.

We love and miss you .

Lindy Coles

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Chairman’s Letter

Dear Readers,

Firstly, on behalf of the Trustee Board I wish to express our deep sorrow on the loss of our colleague, Lyn Blackman. A founder member of the Rosemary Foundation Hospice at Home, Lyn was our longest serving trustee. Her loyalty, her wisdom, her enthusiasm and dedication to fundraising, and her secretarial expertise were greatly appreciated. Above all we shall remember her total selflessness. Lyn was much loved and we shall all miss her.

In the Spring Newsletter I mentioned the South East Hants Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). It will now work closely with the Portsmouth CCG, the Gosport and Fareham CCG and the Southampton and Isle of Wight CCG. Together they will try to commission the best and most cost‐effective services for their large and somewhat diverse population.

However Portsmouth CCG has already put their palliative care services out to tender. The Rowans Hospice will put in a bid. How this will affect the Rosemary Foundation in the long term is uncertain, hopefully not adversely. Currently our management team is working on costing certain aspects of our care so that maybe in the future we could launch a competitive bid. Contracts however are binding and we would need to be careful not to overstretch our charity. Of paramount importance, is the preservation of our identity and our special nursing service.

Meanwhile you will read elsewhere that the financial position remains healthy, due to some enterprising fundraising events. We have been able to take on new nursing staff, increase our bereavement support and recruit some additional volunteer help. I should like to thank everyone; our patron, trustees, staff, volunteers and our generous supporters for their major contribution to the current well‐being of The Rosemary Foundation.

With best wishes,

Dr Patricia Golding, Chair of Trustees

Our group meets once a month for an hour and a half at The Rosemary Foundation office. The meetings are facilitated by Stella Constant. We are a very mixed group and the only thing that we have in common is the fact that we have experienced bereavement. In thinking about what we should say about the group, we came up with numerous words and phrases to describe it. Here are some of them:‐

It is therapeutic and uplifting and we go home with a smile.

The group makes you feel you are not alone and you are able to talk about things you would not discuss with other people.

The group helps you to become more confident in sharing problems. You can bare your soul and it

is heart warming to know that people care.

Talking about your sadness makes it easier to express your feelings without becoming distressed and this reduces the demand on Kleenex.

You feel that people are on your side and then you feel more normal and able to laugh.

We learn about resources from each other and form friendships.

All these things help us to come to terms with our changed situations and make it easier to return to our homes where things are no longer as we would wish them to be.

Sue Crawford, on behalf of the members of the group

The Rosemary Foundation Bereavement Group

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Clinical Review...

…News of the Nurses

It is never easy to write something new and interesting for these newsletters, but this time around it is even more difficult. We all at The Rosemary Foundation have felt the loss of Lyn keenly. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the very many people who, at the request of her family, have made a donation in her memory to us.

Over the last six months we have had three new members of staff join us. Caroline Hinder, a registered nurse, started working with us at the end of last year. Caroline lives in Liss and had a very glamorous job before joining us; she worked for an organisation that repatriated sick people from all over the world. Life with The Rosemary Foundation is not as demanding in quite the same way and Caroline has settled into our team well.

In May of this year, Debbie Langley, also a registered nurse

joined us. Debbie works with our colleagues at The Rowans Hospice

on their in‐patient unit. Debbie brings several years of experience

in palliative care, which is transferring well into the community setting. She will continue to work at

The Rowans just giving us a few hours when she can.

We also have Jeannette Burrows, a health care support worker. Jeannette worked at Bordean House and was already well known to many of the team. Jeanette has been working with teenagers and young adults who are less able and need support with their activities of daily living.

All newly appointed staff undergo a period of induction when they work with an experienced member of the team until they feel confident to take on their own patients. We have a team meeting once a week to discuss all our patients; this is a valuable time for us all to be together, to support

each other, to share what has gone well and to raise any concerns. Our nurses are often on their own helping patients and their families through a difficult and stressful time, and they need to feel confident and supported in order to deliver effective care. We are extremely fortunate in having a loyal, committed and hard working team.

So what of the existing staff on the best weekend weather‐wise in August? Jill was spotted out of uniform looking very elegant and smart at her grandson’s wedding and Lindy celebrated a special birthday with a lively picnic. Next month there will be a wedding. Finally, as usual, if you know anyone who you think would benefit from our input, do please pass on our contact details.

Julie Cotsell

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Pedal Power

On 11 July after months of training, Ed Brooks and Jon Watt set off on their bikes to cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats in a target of 10 days, needing to average 100 miles each day. During their epic journey, Ed and John experienced the best and the worst of our weather which included getting sunburnt and

cycling through flood waters. The scenery was often stunning which compensated for sometimes having to ride along dual carriageways, which in torrential rain was just about the scariest part of the whole journey. Unfortunately, on Day 7 Ed’s knee became too painful to go on, and bitterly disappointed, he had to stop and continue in the support van. Jon cycled on, and on Day 10, without a single puncture, the team arrived at John O’Groats and celebrated with a couple of pints in the last pub in Scotland.

A few weeks later Ed was back on his bike, hoping not to have an operation on his knee, but intending to revisit Scotland to complete the ride as soon as he can. Money is still coming in and so far, Ed and Jon have raised about £3,000 for The Rosemary Foundation. What a superb achievement, thank you Ed and Jon! To read Ed’s full account of their epic j ou rney p lease v i s i t our webs i te : www.rosemary‐foundation.org.uk

With the huge success of the British Cycling Team at the Velodrome during the Olympics, we feature our own heroes on two wheels!

The Rosemary Foundation was delighted to be chosen again as one of the three charities to be supported by this year’s Petersfield Ups and Downs Charity Bike Ride. Taking part were Nurse Emma Loveman and her team, pictured looking very relaxed at the start – and they were still smiling when they finished!

Around The isle of Wight by Bike

Many thanks to Bev Cotton and friends, Linda, Fiona, Sally and Caroline, with Julia driving the support vehicle, who completed the 64 mile circuit of the Isle of Wight, raising in excess of £1700 for The Rosemary Foundation. You can read Bev’s diary of

their adventure on our website www.rosemary‐foundation.org.uk

And last but by no means least, a big thank you to Katharyn Cann and her team who took part in the

LiDBA Charity Bike Ride again this year.

FOOTBALL CORNERFOOTBALL CORNERFOOTBALL CORNER

Our good friend, Ray Ogilvie from Football for Our good friend, Ray Ogilvie from Football for Our good friend, Ray Ogilvie from Football for Cancer, continues to provide opportunities for Cancer, continues to provide opportunities for Cancer, continues to provide opportunities for

raising funds. He arranged for us to hold a bucket raising funds. He arranged for us to hold a bucket raising funds. He arranged for us to hold a bucket collection at Portsmouth’s football ground when collection at Portsmouth’s football ground when collection at Portsmouth’s football ground when

we collected £530 (sadly Portsmouth lost that we collected £530 (sadly Portsmouth lost that we collected £530 (sadly Portsmouth lost that match) and a 5match) and a 5match) and a 5‐‐‐aaa‐‐‐side tournament raised £915. side tournament raised £915. side tournament raised £915.

Thank you very much RayThank you very much RayThank you very much Ray!

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Flower Power

Forget‐Me‐Not

I started Forget Me Not in 2009 when I realized that I had so many lovely clothes sitting rather unloved at the back of my wardrobe, then so too must a lot of other women. And I was right! I had a sale at home and invited friends to give me their forgotten treasures, which I duly sold on their behalf. It was so successful that an idea was born to do it on a regular basis and to a wider audience.

Since then, Forget Me Not has developed a reputation for hand picking only the best quality and condition clothes, shoes and accessories and selling them on at really affordable prices. I attract mums who like to dress well, enjoy shopping but don't have the time and who get a kick from finding things they might not otherwise come across in local shops. It's a fun shopping experience that can be shared with friends.

I decided at the outset that I wanted to give a percentage to charity and asked around for a local charity to which people could relate. Once I discovered The Rosemary Foundation, based in Petersfield, and met the ladies who work and run it, I was smitten by their tireless devotion and selflessness. Over the last few years Forget Me Not has raised several thousand pounds on their behalf and looks forward to a continuing relationship.

October: Thurs 25th 9am – 7pm, Fri 26th 9am – 5pm, Sat 27th 9am – 1pm at

Weedon Cottage in West Meon High Street (opp. The Thomas Lord pub)

November 13thand 14th 9am – 4pm at the Watoto Fair in the Tithe Barn at Ditcham

November 15th 10am – 5pm Save the Children Fair in Petersfield Festival Hall

Contact me on 07771 855912 or email at katie@forgetmenotsales.co.uk and visit the website for more info www.forgetmenotsales.co.uk Katie Jacobs

Lavender Thanks to Tim and Anne Butler, The Rosemary Foundation has been associated with the Lavender Fields at Hartley Park Farm near Alton for the past four years. Their support, which includes a donation from the annual Open Days in June and July, resulted in members of the Rosemary team visiting the Lavender Shop for the presentation of a cheque for £2,500.

Langrish House Hotel was the splendid venue for a talk given by Tim, during which he explained the history of Hartley Park Farm and how his family had made the change from dairy farming to lavender. The fragrance of lavender filled the room as Tim had brought examples of most of the products on sale at his shop. His excellent talk was followed by a superb cream tea – what a great way to raise funds!

Forthcoming Forget Me Not Sales:

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When Hilary, the owner of Liss Wools decided that she wanted to decorate her shop to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee, she came up with the idea of us‐ing the product that she sells to make knitted bunting in red, white and blue. Not only would this make the shop look very patriotic but she would also use it to raise money for The Rosemary Foundation.

Hilary hosts three knit and natter sessions a week for people to come in and socialise while they knit. She asked all the ladies to knit a flag or two for the bunting and for each one knitted she would donate £1. The ladies did well and Hilary made a donation of £100 to The Rosemary Foundation.

A visit to Liss Wools is a must for any of you knitters who have not yet walked into this bright and beautiful Aladdin’s cave, which has very comfy sofas to sit on while you decide what your next project might be.

There is a Rosemary Foundation box on the counter where customers are in‐vited to pop in some money when wishing to purchase a photocopy of a dis‐continued pattern or one that Hilary has written her self.

Many thanks for your support Hilary. Lindy Coles

Fundraising Coffee mornings, tea parties and concerts continue to be well represented in fundraising efforts and over the last six months have raised a considerable amount of money for the Foundation.

The ladies choir “Ancora” gave a concert in the Allen Gallery in Alton to raise funds, singing a varied selection of traditional and contemporary songs. Sadly, Mac Newton, the founder, guiding force and conductor of “Ancora” died on the morning of the concert. He had been cared for by Rosemary Foundation nurses in his final days, so the choir was very glad to be able to donate the £588 that was collected in his memory. Thank you to everyone who has held a fundraising event, we are very grateful to you all for your wonderful support for The Rosemary Foundation and we hope that you have had a lot of fun as well! Due to lack of space in the Newsletter, it is not possible for us write about every event, but our Webmaster, Richard Burton would be delighted to put more articles and photos on our website www.rosemary‐foundation.org.uk

Jubilee Bunting

Petersfield Lions The Rosemary Foundation is very grateful to the Petersfield Lions Club for its recent donation of £1,000 and Penny and Sabine are pictured receiving the cheque.

Lin Piatek, the Club’s President writes:

We serve our local communities by supporting other charities (financially & providing time, energy & expertise) as well as local personal causes. We raise our funds mainly by attending fetes and running quiz nights. Our Petersfield club also runs a mammoth annual "SpekTrek", where old spectacles are collected by other Lions Clubs throughout southern England, and we collect them prior to being cleaned, graded & sent to third world countries. Over the last 30 years nearly 2.5 million pairs have been collected. We also give elderly residents of Petersfield a gift at Christmas and provide some of the younger families with tickets for the pantomime each January. We have supported many individual causes for the needy and contribute to disaster appeals by Lions International, of which we are just a few of the 1.4 million members. More information is available on www.petersfieldlions.org.uk

Sandra Beadle and Trish McPherson (seated) at a coffee morning in Cosham

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The Spring 2012 Newsletter cautioned that “Preliminary figures for January 2012 however suggest a more modest income …” (than those of the months in 2011)

January certainly was more modest and February, March and April were not too good, but with compensating improved income in May and June, we ended the financial year pretty much as we had ended the calendar year in December 2011 ‐ with a surplus of slightly under £20,000. While this might sound a generous amount, it must be set against the average monthly expenditure of over £20,000.

Sterling work by our devoted Wednesday team of volunteers (remember them from page 3 of the spring 2011 Newsletter?) means that we continue to maximise our claims for Gift Aid refunds. We will be making another claim from HMRC a little later this year which will give a welcome boost to our funds. We read that even in these difficult times, there are other charities that are not making the most of Gift Aid refunds; certainly it does need some well organised action to be successful.

The Trustees have given guidelines which determine when we have a sufficient surplus to be able to build up further our investment fund. We have to be careful not to get ourselves into a cash flow problem in our day to day operating finances. Those of you who have played Monopoly will know that it can be unwise to spend all your cash on houses and hotels! You can see from the chart above that our income is not at all regular or predictable. Our expenditure levels fluctuate less from month to month.

We started the new financial year of July 2012 to June 2013 in fine style. In July we received a number of very significant amounts including a legacy of almost £15,000 which brought the total for the month to just over £40,000. While notable such amounts are obviously most welcome, we continue to be very grateful for the large number of more modest gifts which we receive and which are no less important in helping us continue. At the time of writing the August figures are not available, but so far they are not quite so cheerful.

Mike English, Trustee

Financial Review

Mayor’s Parting Gift Popular outgoing Petersfield Town Mayor, Mr George Watkinson chose The Rosemary Foundation Hospice at Home as his charity during his year in office. A very successful and enjoyable Quiz Night together with other fundraising ventures enabled Mr Watkinson to present a cheque for £3,220.60.

The Rosemary Foundation receives no statutory funding and can only continue caring for people within their own homes with support such as this from the community. Barbara Pettegree said “we are so grateful; this gift will make a very real contribution to the level of care we can provide”.

Mr George Watkinson presenting his cheque to joint managers Julie Cotsell and Barbara Pettegree from The Rosemary Foundation.

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The Rosemary Foundation - Hospice at Home 35 Lavant Street, Petersfield, Hampshire, GU32 3EL

( 01730 266 329 (administration) or 01730 269 996 (clinical staff)

Lights of Remembrance Service 2012 Sunday 2 December at 5:00pm

at Langrish House Hotel by kind invitation of Mr & Mrs Talbot‐Ponsonby

Please complete the form below and return it to us by Wednesday 28th November

OCTOBER

20 Saturday

Annual Quiz Night – East Meon Village Hall

7.00 for 7.30pm start

tel: 01730 266329 to book a table

NOVEMBER

10 Saturday

The Rosemary Consort St Peter’s Church Petersfield, 7:30pm

24 Saturday

Christmas Fayre – East Meon Village Hall doors open 10 until 12 noon.

DECEMBER

1 Saturday

Christmas Fayre – Hawkley Village Hall 11:30 am—3.30 pm

2 Sunday

Lights of Remembrance Service Langrish House Hotel at 5pm

8 Saturday

Petersfield Chamber Choir St Peter’s Church, Petersfield, 7:30pm, Retiring collection

22 Saturday

Street Collection - Petersfield

2012 Diary of Events

Please accept my Donation* of £…………….……...…

I wish The Rosemary Foundation to treat all donations* I have made since 6 April 2000, and all donations I make from the date of this declaration until I notify you otherwise as Gift Aid donations.

I confirm that I am a UK Taxpayer and pay an amount of income tax and/or capital gains tax at least equal to the tax that The Rosemary Foundation reclaims on my donations in the tax year.

Signed ……………..……………………………..…………..

Date………………...…………………………………...….…

Please complete your details in the adjacent box. *delete as appropriate,

I would like to dedicate a light in memory of:

…………………………………………………………..…..

and I enclose a donation in aid of The Foundation’s Lights of Remembrance appeal.

No. to attend Lights of Remembrance Service: ….………

Name:………………………………………………….…….…

Address:……………………………………………………..…

………………………………………………………….……….

Post Code: ………………………………………………….....

Tel No: (Just in case of queries)

………………………………………………………………..…

Gift Aid Declaration