Claire House fundraiser retires

Jan 27 2010 by James Hague, Heswall 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.

Looking back, she said: “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.” 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.