Our first patient story

“My Grandee Eddie was a very proud Welshman. He had a big heart in his 4ft 11″ frame. He loved cricket, especially Glamorgan, and was known to burst into tears if he heard even the first few words of song from any male voice choir from ‘the valleys’ back home. He worked at the car factory in Cowley for nigh on 40 years.

He started working there in the 1920s, having walked from South Wales to Oxford to find work. In Oxford he met Mabel, my Granny, who was a Woolworths shop assistant. They couldn’t have kids so they adopted my Mum in 1943 shortly after she was born. After working at the car factory, Eddie did the milk round in Oxford, before retiring in 1970.

My sister Sian and I were six and 11 years old respectively when Eddie was admitted to Sobell House. I remember it was a peaceful and not at all sad place to be – our visits were relaxed and almost homely. I have an old audio tape recording somewhere of me with my parents and my sister sat round Grandee’s bed chatting. It’s just a conversation that would take place in any home – it didn’t feel like a clinical setting.

While staying at the hospice, Eddie was interviewed for the BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour programme. In his interview, he describes the hospice as ‘wonderful’ and ‘marvellous’ and my Granny shares that she’s pleased she’s been able to ‘be a companion for Eddie instead of a carer. We can have a little cry together and a little laugh together. We’ve been able to lead a more normal life since we’ve been at Sobell House.’ It’s wonderful to be able to listen back to this audio clip and hear that they felt content and comfortable at Sobell House. It brings a tear, but also a smile. I have many fond memories of that time.

I’d like to think that our visits to Sobell House to see him in those formative years were, at least in part, behind Sian’s later decision to embark on her 40 years of service as an NHS nurse. My positive personal experiences and memories from those early days of Sobell House and the wonderful care my grandfather received are now experienced, thankfully, across the country. But back in 1976 modern hospice care was only just breaking ground.

I’ve subsequently visited Sobell House on a few occasions and my overwhelming feeling is that of a gentle, calm, and caring setting. Long may it continue.”