Volunteer, 82, wins international award

For 22 years Gerard Paris has spent his spare time working hard to help patients being cared for by Black Country charity Compton Hospice.

And his efforts have now been recognised by health bosses around the world as he was awarded the Volunteer of the Year accolade by the International Journal of Palliative Nursing.

Former finance director at Wolverhampton-based firm Tarmac, 82-year-old Mr Paris, from Albrighton, became a trustee at the hospice after retiring in 1989 and was soon appointed as a finance director.

Just two years later, he took on the role of director at the hospice's trading company, which is responsible for the running of 20 charity shops across the Midlands. "I was very flattered to even be nominated for this award, and certainly never expected to receive anything," said the grandfather-of-five.

"It was amazing. There were people from America and Australia up for awards - and in my category there was someone from Africa.

"I was also thrilled to accept it on behalf of the 800-plus volunteers who all deserve an equal share of this award. Like me, they would all tell you that they get much more out of volunteering for Compton than they put in – it's a privilege to be able to work there. It is a wonderful place."

Mr Paris, whose wife Zoe was cared for by the hospice until her death in February last year, aged 80, was also instrumental in setting up Compton Hospice Promotions Ltd, which operates the organisation's weekly lottery.

He was appointed vice chairman of the hospice in 1996 until his eventual retirement as a trustee in April 2005. Volunteer services manager Maggie Perry nominated Mr Paris, along with Compton chief executive Ron Middleton.

"Throughout Gerard's association with us he has had the patients' perspective and the nursing staff's interests, development and concerns uppermost in his mind," she said.

"Every volunteer deserves praise for their work, and whilst I try not to single people out as we have so many worthy of praise, Gerard's work as a trustee has been outstanding, and he so thoroughly deserves this award."