People / Interviews
St Peter’s Hospice launch 50th retail shop
Nursing staff who worked at the very first St Peter’s Hospice shop helped opening the charity’s fiftieth store in Hartcliffe.
Eileen Davies and Carole Jenkins were part of the first team of only four members of staff in 1978. They also attended the opening of the first St Peter’s shop in 1981.
Carole said: “It has tremendously changed since it first started. There were only seven beds originally and we were very grateful for those seven.”
is needed now More than ever
The charity now treats more than two thousand patients per year, providing physical, psychological and spiritual care to those at the end of their lives.
Joining the nurses for the opening were volunteers Mildred Ford and Anne Browning. Both started working at the first St Peter’s Hospice shop in Knowle.
Mildred said: “It’s been lovely to watch it grow. Back when we started, it was completely different, very untidy and grubby. For the till we used an ordinary wooden box and a book to write in, but the system worked well.”
The shop is now the largest charity retail chain in the South West raising more than £2 million every year.
St Peter’s Hospice’s shop is now open in Hartcliffe on Peterson Avenue. All funds raised will go to towards patient care at St Peter’s Hospice.
Read more: Charity cafe opens on Gloucester Road