With this year marking Rowcroft Hospice’s 40th anniversary, we’re celebrating the lives of the tens of thousands of people who have been cared for by the hospice since we first opened our doors to patients with life-limiting illnesses in 1982. Along with a broad programme of events arranged for May (4 May being the hospice’s official birthday), we’re planning to hold a magnificent photo exhibition between 30 April and 8 May 2022 to celebrate the lives of everyone who has been supported by Rowcroft over the last 40 years. Rowcroft is inviting families of relatives cared for by the hospice to send in a photograph of their loved one to contribute to this celebratory ‘40 Years of Care’ photographic display, and to attend the exhibition.
“Our 40th anniversary is a momentous time for us as a hospice,” said Rowcroft’s In-Memory Giving and Legacy Manager Rebecca Cogger. “We’re marking the occasion with this wonderful ‘40 Years of Care’ photo exhibition, where we hope to celebrate the lives of all the people who have been supported and cared for by the hospice since we were set up in 1982. For families who have lost loved ones, it’s an opportunity to honour their lives in a unique and inspiring way, to celebrate a brilliant local charity that has been caring for South Devon’s community for 40 years, and a chance to pay tribute to all of Rowcroft’s dedicated nurses and care teams who over four decades have cared so compassionately for the people we hold dear in our hearts.
“My amazing mum, Ann, was cared for by Rowcroft’s devoted professionals in Rowcroft’s Inpatient Unit before she passed away in 2010, so I’ll be adding her photo to the exhibition too.
“It’s so simple to be a part of this celebration. Just send us a photograph of your loved one along with their name, and we’ll include the photo in our exhibition. We’ll also enter the name of your loved one into our online Book of Remembrance that will be available on our website, and we’ll publish their name in a special edition of Torbay Weekly on 5 May. We’d love you to come along to the exhibition and I’ll be on hand during the week to welcome you and to update you with news of the hospice.”
Sponsored by Stockman & Loram The Family Run Funeral Service and Express Stairlifts Southwest, the exhibition will be held between 30 April and 8 May 2022, 9am to 5pm, at Rainbow House in the hospice’s grounds in Avenue Road, Torquay. Everyone is warmly invited to attend including those without a connection to the hospice.
Di Feasby of Newton Abbot is adding a photo of her late husband Steve to the exhibition, as a way of honouring and celebrating his life. Steve was cared for by the hospice before he passed away in Rowcroft’s Inpatient Unit in 2017. Di said:
“When Steve was diagnosed, we were told by the hospital that he had a non-curable illness and only had about three months left to live. We were in shock, and we came away devoid of hope. Thankfully, Rowcroft got involved in Steve’s care and we were reassured that we had plenty to live for and that Rowcroft would be with us every step of the way. Most of all they showed us how to love and live each day that we had left with each other.
“The love and compassion we were shown in Rowcroft’s Inpatient Unit were overwhelming. All the staff had such a lovely manner; they genuinely cared. The level of respect they have for their patients is beyond words.”
To contribute a photo to the exhibition, please do so before Easter. Email the photo of your loved one and their name to rebecca.cogger@rowcrofthospice.org.uk or post it to Rebecca Cogger at Rowcroft Hospice, Avenue Road, Torquay TQ9 7SP. If posting your image, you are kindly requested to make a duplicate of your photo to retain, as Rowcroft is unable to return photos to their owners.
For further information about Rowcroft’s anniversary and the 40 Years of Care photo exhibition, please see www.rowcrofthospice.org.uk/40yearsofcare or telephone Rebecca or Jenny on 01803 217642.