At Easter Doreen Broadbent retires from her post as Chaplain to Willow Wood Hospice.  

Doreen first came to St George's during Ken Langton's time becoming involved in study groups and the Mothers' Union, later the Guild. She and Terence then moved to Carrbrook to care for Terence's father. Following the death of his father Terence asked Doreen if she would come back to St George's and she agreed adding, “Yes but I'm not getting involved again!”  Paul Denby, however, encouraged her to be part of a group witting a job description for a new ordained local minister (OLM) which made her think about future possibilities for her own ministry. 1990 was to be a momentous year. Terence died in February and in December Doreen was made redundant from her job in human relations. As she was thinking, ‘What now' Joan Etches challenged her to think again about OLM. Following her 3 year training she was ordained deacon in 1994 and the following year and was among the first group of women to move automatically to ordination as priests. St George's has been part of Doreen's life for a long time. Last autumn she went out to Australia to officiate at the wedding of her great niece but was pleased to return eventually to her spiritual home at St George's. 

In 2000 Doreen, encouraged by Nora Council, started as a volunteer chaplain at Willow Wood Hospice and in 2004 she was invited by Barbara Robinson, the then Matron, to join the staff. Doreen was licensed as Chaplain by Bishop Michael Lewis in October 2004. She feels very privileged to have been involved with the Hospice, a place to sadness but also of great joy and many good things. Someone described Willow Wood as a place, ‘where you are enfolded in love'.

 What about the future? “I might even learn to crochet!” she says, that's if there is time left from her new passion – family history. She is now the holder of the family archive and now has 4 or 5 other members involved in tracing their family history. They have recently been in touch with someone in Canada who is researching Doreen's grandmother. Her other new found pastime is riding public transport, seeing how far she and her friends can travel for free!. The new national concessionary ticket opens up boundless possibilities. So, if you're travelling on the tram sometime and see a group of ladies with their crochet ……

Willow Wood Hospice
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Barbara Robinson 1955-2007
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