Willow Wood Hospice has been celebrating a Royal day to remember and treasure today with the visit of His Royal Highness, The Duke of Gloucester.
He was met upon arrival by the hospice team and trustees and the Civic Mayor of Tameside Cllr Vincent Ricci among other specially invited guests.
He then toured every department at the hospice and the gardens, taking time to meet and chat with staff, volunteers and patients to find out about the vital work and role the hospice plays. He also took lunch at the hospice.
Pat McCloskey, chairman of the Hospice’s Board of Trustees, said: “The Duke’s visit is an amazing reward for all those members of staff and volunteers who have worked tirelessly at the hospice over the last 16 years, where we have been providing the very highest level of care to the people of Tameside and Glossop.”
Chief Executive, Karen Houlston, added: “This is a tremendous honour, not only for the hospice, but the communities of Tameside and Glossop as a whole.
“It is a wonderful opportunity to show-case our work. The Duke’s visit recognises the wonderful work carried out at the hospice and obviously we will be doing everything we can to ensure the visit is a huge success.”
The Duke is not the first Royal visitor to the hospice, The Duke of Kent having visited more than a decade ago.
Special Royal report in next week’s edition of the The Tameside Reporter (September 10 edition).