Sad goodbye

It is always sad when we say goodbye to volunteers.  It is even sadder when we know that wonderful volunteers who have given so much to others have passed away.  Recently, we had the sad but uplifting experience of attending two funerals of former volunteers, both of whom had given many years to the work of Age UK Redbridge, Barking & Havering with older people. 

 Joan Woolston, who had also volunteered with Arthritis UK and ASNET, a support network for people with arthritis, carried out many administrative tasks for our Befriending Service, such as writing birthday cards.  She always came in very quietly and unobtrusively but provided us with sterling, reliable service until poor health required her to give up.  Joan was so quiet, we never knew how much she had done until it was too late. She was a keen gardener and had a beautiful garden.  The eulogies from others with whom she worked and volunteered spoke volumes.  Her twin sister, Betty, will sorely miss her.  Betty was a volunteer receptionist with Age UKRBH for around 20 years until she had to give up in order to care for Joan.

 Norma Gregory came with a craft group from Goodmayes Hospital and ended up assisting us with ‘front of house’ duties at our Activity Centre for several years.  We knew a little about Norma’s work fostering and adopting children, some of them with special needs, but not quite how many she had cared for with her husband over decades!  She also found time to run the Sunday School at her church and run other groups there, volunteer with Age UKRBH and make lots of Christmas cakes for those who couldn’t afford one.  One of her adopted children said how Norma had always sent a tenner every week whilst he was doing his finals, continuing to think of him even as he made his own way in the world.  Norma participated in one of our focus groups as recently as August.