91-year-old dedicated hospice volunteer 'honoured' to attend royal concert

Joan Fairley, a 91-year-old volunteer at St Giles Hospice, recently experienced a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend the 'Together at Christmas' carol service, hosted by The Princess of Wales at the historic Westminster Abbey.  

The 1,600-strong congregation largely consisted of members of the public recommended by Lord Lieutenants across the country for their community and charity work as a 'thank you' from the Princess. 

For over 10 years, Joan has been a dedicated volunteer at St Giles, inspired by a promise to her late husband, Norman, who was cared for at St Giles Hospice. 

"My late husband Norman was cared for at the Whittington hospice,” Joan shared. “While he was there, he said, ‘It’s like paradise here. You will help them, won’t you?’ so I started volunteering on their reception a year later, and since then, the whole family has got involved with supporting St Giles" 

During her time at St Giles, Joan has raised over £12,000 for the hospice and has become a beloved part of the St Giles team.  

"We know the value of the care the hospice provides, and it’s great to be able to help. Plus, I really enjoy all the aspects of volunteering," Joan added. 

One of the most memorable aspects of the concert, according to Joan, was the shared spirit of love and kindness among all attendees. "The best thing was that everybody there had given their time and love to others, and it filled the whole of Westminster Abbey.”  

"It was lovely to see The Royal Family in attendance, including the children. The Princess of Wales looked so well, and that was marvellous as she’s had a really tough time recently." 

Joan's dedication to helping others goes beyond St Giles. She has also been involved in setting up a hospital in Ukraine and remains active as a soroptimist, contributing to causes that support communities both locally and globally. 

Joan looks forward to watching the service on Christmas Eve with her family. "We’ll be trying to spot ourselves – my daughter was wearing leopard print, so we might see her in the audience!" she laughed. 

For Joan and her family, Christmas has always been about giving back. "It’s all about family – but an extended family. We usually bring Christmas dinner to friends and neighbours who are on their own, complete with crackers and hats. Then we meet back at my daughters for the main course." 

Rebecca Webb, Deputy Director of People an Organisational Development at St Giles Hospice, expressed her gratitude to Joan and the hospice’s volunteers. “Volunteers like Joan are what makes St Giles so special. As a cherished member of our Fundraising team, Joan’s efforts to support St Giles don't go unnoticed.”  

“Joan’s story is a reminder of the incredible impact one individual can make through dedication, compassion, and service to others.” 

“We are so grateful to every single volunteer who gives their time to support St Giles in so many ways. Without them, we couldn’t provide the care and support to local people, and their loved ones, living with a terminal illness.” 

Find out more about St Giles Hospice at stgileshospice.com