Two volunteers have received a prestigious High Sheriff Award in recognition of their 60 years’ combined service for Lewis-Manning Hospice Care in Poole.

The honour, from Michael Dooley, is for Ann Deller and Robin Sherwood’s ‘great and valuable services to the community’.

The awards were made as part of the hospice’s 30^th anniversary celebrations which are being marked throughout 2022.

They were presented at a reception, hosted by the High Sheriff, at the Longfleet Road hospice.

Ann and Robin have been volunteers at Lewis-Manning for all of the hospice’s 30-year history.

Ann is currently a volunteer and member of staff.

Robin is a volunteer driver but has held a diverse mix of roles at the hospice during the last 30 years.

Clare Gallie, CEO, pictured left, said: “We are thrilled to celebrate these High Sheriff awards.

“Ann has been regularly volunteering with Lewis-Manning since we opened 30 years ago, as a receptionist and is now an employed part-time receptionist.

“Ann continues to volunteer as well as being a member of staff.

“Her role is to greet patients and visitors as they arrive at the hospice.

“Ann has a quiet, warm empathy and is the first ‘face’ of Lewis-Manning that many people will see.

“Her hard work, always going the extra mile and continuing to volunteer with us, is sincerely appreciated and she couldn’t be a more deserving recipient of this prestigious award.

“Robin has also been volunteering with Lewis-Manning Hospice Care for 30 years.

“He started volunteering following his early retirement as a bank manager all those years go.

“He is a much-valued member of our volunteer driver team, collecting patients from their homes and bringing them for their treatment and hospice sessions and then returning them to their homes safe and sound.

“Over many years Robin has carefully escorted many patients to and from our hospice, chatting to them on the way, listening to them and supporting wherever he can.

“Ann and Robin are very deserving recipients of these prestigious awards.

“It is wonderful to see their 30 years of kindness and support to our patients at their end of life, recognised in this way.

“We offer huge thanks to Michael Dooley for coming along this evening and for his wonderful support of our charity.

Michael said: “It is a real pleasure to recognise and celebrate 60 years of voluntary service.

“I feel humbled that Ann and Robin have done so much good work for the hospice and I am delighted to say thank you to them.”

Robin said the award had been “a really lovely surprise.”

He added: “I felt quite tearful on hearing about the award.

“I love everything about being a volunteer and I’ve met so many people over the years.

“We hear some amazing stories about the patients and their different lives.

“I’ve calculated that I’ve driven over 100,000 miles in my volunteer role over the last 30 years.

“I’ve had great fun volunteering, it gives you purpose, pattern and people – very satisfying and rewarding.”

Ann said, “I feel extremely humbled and proud to receive this award.

“I don’t volunteer to get something back personally but you really do.

“It’s an honour to meet and see how the professional nursing team work in-depth with the patients, it’s a real eye opener.

“I have huge respect for them and see first-hand the difference that the hospice makes to the lives of the patients that they support.”

• lewis-manning.org.uk