Thelma joined the Strathcarron team in 1983 as Staff Nurse to set up a day care service.

 

She visited the Hospice as part of our Celebrate 45 anniversary to share her memories.

 

Thelma arrived in Scotland as a result of her husband being relocated by his employer to manage their operations here.

 

They settled in Alloa and the children began their schooling - which was a major shock due to the class sizes! Thelma’s family had moved from a small village in Staffordshire where the village school only had 11 pupils on the whole register.

 

When Thelma was recruited it was her first visit to a Hospice. She had learned about the Hospice movement having read the book by Cicely Saunders – the founder of the Hospice movement in the UK. She felt inspired at Cicely’s amazing vision, proving that very few things are impossible to achieve.

 

The first Day Care room opened in the main house and would accommodate up to five patients comfortably Monday to Friday.

 

Thelma’s role was varied, from usual care tasks aligned with a nursing role, to organising many outings, celebrations and activities.

 

One very memorable trip was to Gleneagles Hotel for High Tea. When Thelma went to pay the bill, she was told that it had been settled already by a generous resident at the Hotel, who turned out to be an elderly lady who was a member of the Cadbury’s family.

 

When retired from her post Thelma would shortly return twice weekly helping the social work team with bereavement support which was called “Seasons for Growth” which was invaluable to the young people she worked with.

 

Thelma enjoyed watching the change in the young people from being shy and hurting, to coming to terms with their grief and anger, and sharing the friendship with the others in attendance.

She said: "I have lots of special memories from that time. We had one patient who wrote a book and illustrated it during her time with us. We got it printed for her and made copies for her sister and her son as keepsakes.

 

Another memorable event was a wedding where one of our volunteers married a patient. The Rev.Donald McCallum who was Hospice Minister performed the ceremony. Day Care patients and staff attended Stirling Baptist Church and on our return kitchen staff had prepared an amazing feast.

 

We had regular entertainment including Cumbernauld Male Voice Choir and annual Burns Suppers with the local Denny GP on Bagpipes.

 

"My friend was a potter and she brought in her wheel and patients were able to make items and the article they produced stayed as a physical memory for the family when that person died. People were always more than happy and generous to help us share their talents and gifts.

 

"The staff were so lovely and I really enjoyed my time at Strathcarron.

 

"I was proud to have helped develop Day Care from just a tiny sitting room and a handful of people, to then welcome hundreds of people over the years to the Hospice.

 

"As a nurse, it gave me a great deal of satisfaction being there from the beginning and seeing that little room thriving and developing to a point welcoming up to 15 people at a time to support them was wonderful."

Help us Celebrate 45 Years of Strathcarron Hospice

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Published 27 May 2026