IT seems like only yesterday that Dr Jenny Bulman and a handful of volunteers began spearheading the establishment of St Richard’s Hospice.

Incredibly, it was 25 years ago.

And a new book written to celebrate the anniversary is an invaluable insight into the hard work and fortitude that has culminated in the creation of the purpose-built hospice at Wildwood Drive, Worcester.

From Dream to Reality was written by Marianne Rankin. It reveals how, in the early 1980s, Droitwich GP Dr Bulman and her core of volunteers held informal coffee mornings to drum up support. It was a difficult time and a steering group of 12 people gradually became more organised, drawing in solicitors, bankers, medical professionals, clergy and entrepreneurs to make the hospice what it is today.

It is an astonishing story of how the passionate convictions of a few have enriched the lives of so many.

One person who remembers how it all began is Jeannie Young. She was working as a nursing sister and bringing up a young family with her farmer husband when she got involved with the hospice.

Her invaluable memories enabled her to help pull all the information together for the book’s author.

“They were quite difficult days before St Richard’s was founded as there was no particular understanding about how newlydiagnosed patients felt,” said Mrs Young. Doctors were very busy and didn’t always have time to treat the whole person or understand the feelings of the shattered family, which is what palliative care is all about – not a speciality in those days of 1982.”

St Richard’s began life at the Droitwich home of Dr Bulman and later moved into Castle Street, Worcester, as a place where people could go for reassurance after being diagnosed with a terminal illness. As day care became more popular, and more volunteers were recruited, it became apparent that more space was needed.

After a search, the elegant Georgian building Rose Hill was bought, refurbished and opened by Diana Princess of Wales in 1992.

Many fruitful and expanding years were spent at Rose Hill developing education, counselling and bereavement services as well as building on the expertise of the fund-raising team. But as the need for services grew, it was clear that the hospice had outgrown Rose Hill and following a huge fund raising campaign, the first sod of turf was lifted for the present building at Wildwood Drive in July 2005.

“Everybody who started work with St Richard’s, both staff and volunteers, soon found that their job description was thrown out of the window as we were evolving all the time,” remembers Mrs Young.

“But through passion and dedication, a group of people who all shared the same goal grew together to create the very special place we have today.”

St Richard’s became part of her life and offered support when her twin sister Mary was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

“The hospice was able to help her and her family. When she died in her own home we were all together, which brought huge comfort to our family,” said Mrs Young.

The book reveals how Liz Bevan, the first professional fund-raiser employed by the hospice, ensured hardly a week went by without a mention in the local Press – an achievement the current team in the fund-raising department have maintained and enhanced.

The book also describes how many people became involved in the hospice because they wanted to give something back.

From Dream to Reality costs £10 and is available from the hospice at Wildwood Drive, Worcester, or by contacting Marilyn Peachey on 01905 763963 e-mail mpeachey@ strichards.org.uk.