Claire House fundraiser to retire

Jan 27 2010 by James Hague, Bromborough and Bebington News

A WOMAN who has seen Claire House Children's Hospice grow from humble beginnings is retiring.

Since 1995, Barbara Maddock has raised £30,000 for the charity and rose to full-time appeals secretary.

She said: “I will miss the highs and lows of working at the hospice but I am so pleased to have seen it grow in the past 15 years.

“I'll still be doing my bit and donating proceeds from the shows I produce.”

During Barbara's tenure the hospice has developed from a cellar to a location in Clatterbridge Hospital, where they provide care for more than 200 children with life-limiting illness.

Barbara first became involved by donating £1,350 from a musical show she produced and immediately offered her services as a volunteer, helping with administration and encouraging fund-raising.

She became appeals secretary of the hospice in 1997, a year before Claire House opened its doors, caring for only a handful of children.

Looking back, she said: “In those days you did every job and worked every hour possible without expecting anything in return.

“I have many fond memories over the past 15 years, like Georgia meeting Father Christmas in Lapland, and Miro hosting a radio chat show with Pete Price.

“Then there was Catherine singing 'Over the Rainbow' on Challenge Anneka and Alex featured on TV as Britain’s smallest boy who learned to walk against all expectations.” A visit from Formula One driver and Le Mans winner Johnny Herbert proved so popular traffic around the hospice was backed up for nearly a mile.

A far cry from its humble roots, today the hospice has ten rooms, a lounge, teen room and extra space for families and parents.

Barbara's next show is a Variety Show Spectacular, May 7-9 at Frodsham Community Centre.