The very first time I heard the word ‘hospice’ was during a phone call from Liz, Dr Elizabeth Hall. She briefly explained what a hospice was and the intention to get one in Colchester, and she wanted him to join the steering group. 

Liz said it would only take a few months to help then I could slide off if I wanted to. That was a joke!

My particular job was public relations to try to get it off the ground. When I sat back and I looked at it I thought, well I’ve got no product and I’m trying to sell it to people! We were promoting something that didn’t exist.

We travelled around the county talking, talking, talking, spreading the word about the Hospice and getting it to be known.

I had good partners with the Standard and the Evening Gazette, who helped us along quite a lot with coverage in the newspapers.