Hospice volunteer awarded for her caring

Jackie Duffy with the letter informing her about being awarded the Order of Mercy

A volunteer is to be honoured with an award for her sterling service.

Jackie Duffy from Shaw, is to receive the Order of Mercy for 22 years of volunteering at Rochdale’s Springhill Hospice.

The honour is awarded by The League of Mercy Foundation, created in 1899 to establish a large body of voluntary workers who would help hospitals.

Led by President Lord Lingfield, it asks charities to nominate individuals who have given seven or more years of outstanding, unpaid service with up to 50 people nationally receiving the prestigious award each year.

Mrs Duffy received a letter from the organisation informing her she had been nominated by the hospice and approved by the League’s trustees for the award for “distinguished voluntary work for many years.”

It adds: “Only a small number of awards are made each year and we would be honoured if you would receive one of them.”

Mrs Duffy’s sterling service began when the hospice opened in 1989 and, armed with a mop and bucket, she set about cleaning up after the builders.

She has since given countless hours of her time carrying out numerous duties — from serving meals and refreshments to patients to greeting visitors.

She has turned her hand to cleaning, manning the reception, helping the treasurer, holding fundraisers and organising concerts and house to house collections.

Mrs Duffy, who is retired, believes it is because she is always available to help cover, rather than just do the regular one shift a week, that she was nominated. She often works there several days a week.

She said: “I have had such a varied life that I can turn my hand to a lot of things. I definitely enjoy it. It’s sad at times but you have not to let that come through and remain cheerful for relatives.

“It was so humbling to think that so many volunteers nominated me.”

Mrs Duffy has been invited, along with family, friends and a charity representative, to a ceremony at London’s Mansion House on 1 June.

London Mayor Boris Johnson is expected to carry out the presentation.

The only other person to receive the Order of Mercy at the hospice it its founder Margaret Geoghegan in 2007.