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A security company has stepped forward to foil thieves who stole from East Cheshire Hospice.

The firm has installed a three-camera system at the charity’s shop on Chestergate which opened almost a year ago.

The company has asked to remain anonymous.

Volunteers Judith Bayley (left) and Joan Nadin at the Chestergate shop which has had security cameras fitted.

They immediately answered an appeal for help from the Hospice which became frustrated by sneak thieves who pinched goods during shop opening hours.

Designer menswear, cameras, perfume and candles were among items taken.

The Hospice now has CCTV installed thanks to the kind-hearted company who acted swiftly once they heard about the charity’s plight.

Hospice commercial manager Louise Delany said: “It was extremely generous of the company to come forward to offer this help.

“We now have a sophisticated camera security system in place which includes an intruder alarm and that should deter would-be thieves who will be caught on camera.

“The company insisted they didn’t want any recognition for their work. The owner just said ‘I think this is the right thing to do. I just want to help.’

“That’s unbelievably generous. They couldn’t do enough for us. The survey of the shop and installation was all done in the space of four or five days.

“I just don’t understand how people can steal items which our donors have so generously given to us. It baffles me to be honest.

“Thankfully, this story has a happy ending, showing the kinder side of human nature.”

The new chaplain at East Cheshire Hospice is no stranger to the charity.

Reverend Dr Marion Tugwood was a regular visitor to the Hospice in her role as minister at Macclesfield United Reformed Church.

Marion spent 10 years with the church and often provided pastoral care for patients at end-of-life and their loved ones.

Her first official duty in her new role was the Light Up a Life service at St Michael and All Angels Church in December.

She said: “The service took place two days after I started so I was thrown in at the deep end, but it went well and people seemed to value the time to reflect on the life of their loved one. The church was full for this moving occasion.

Reverend Dr Marion Tugwood, the new chaplain at East Cheshire Hospice.

“My brief is to look after the whole Hospice, so I’m here for volunteers, staff as well as obviously patients and their relatives.”

From 2018, Marion held a wider role assisting 12 churches, including Macclesfield, as part of a Missional Partnership for the United Reformed Church.

She said: “The role involved training and equipping churches to be more self-sufficient without relying on a single minister.

“It was about building skills and increasing people’s ability to evangelise and to work with their own communities.”

“My chaplaincy work is similar to what I did before as I’m using my worship leading skills. But in other ways it’s different as there is greater emphasis on pastoral care.

“I’m getting to know families, patient and staff and am delighted to be part of a charity which is so highly regarded in east Cheshire and beyond.”

“The atmosphere here is calm and peaceful. People aren’t rushed in the way they are in some other care settings.”

For the last seven years Marion has helped run 15th Macclesfield Sea Scouts Group.

She was a founder of the Street Angels project in Macclesfield, a church initiative set up 12 years ago.

She said: “The job of Street Angels is to bring calm. We’re out on Saturdays between 10.30 pm and 3 am and pick up people who’ve fallen over. We also give out flip flops and bottles of water to people who may be the worse for wear.

“We’re not the police and not the council and just hang out and interact with people enjoying themselves and having a good time.”

To find out more about chaplaincy and view upcoming services, events and news, please go to www.eastcheshirehospice.org.uk/spiritual-support.

East Cheshire Hospice is involved in a pioneering project aimed at providing patients from the LGTBQ+ community with better support.

The charity is one of the three Cheshire hospices benefitting from a £22,000 grant from Cheshire Freemasons, in partnership with Hospice UK.

St Luke’s, Winsford, and Hospice of The Good Shepherd, Backford, are also involved in the 12-month scheme.

The project improves accessibility to hospice services for LGBTQ+ people by ensuring support is fully inclusive and meets the needs of all patients.

LGBTQ+  development facilitator Ellen Coleman offers support and training for staff across the three hospices to improve their approach and make them more accessible.

Her role includes providing additional resources, making policy changes and ensuring databases and  paperwork are inclusive.

From left, Ellen Coleman with Kate Estcourt from St Luke’s Hospice and Simon Palfreyman, Harry Wright and Steve Simpson  from Cheshire Freemasons.

East Cheshire has also trained five champions to raise the level of staff knowledge around how best to support LGBTQ+ patients.

Ellen said: “The fact I’m hired purely to work on this project is quite a new thing and hopefully other hospices around the country will adopt a similar approach soon.

“Initiatives focused on equality, diversity and inclusivity are often combined with other roles in  many organisations in health care and social care settings.

“East Cheshire Hospice have fully embraced the project and part of my role is to deliver training so  when staff engage with patients, families and colleagues they are confident about using the right language. During recruitment the right questions must also be asked.”

Research by the charity Stonewall shows many LGBTQ+ people avoid accessing health and social care services due to a fear of discrimination, or a history of negative experiences.

Ellen said: “The three hospices in Cheshire want to remove this fear for LGBTQ+ people. The response has been fantastic and we aim to provide continuity after the initial 12-month project.”

Sarah Dale, Director of Quality, Innovation and Collaboration at East Cheshire Hospice, said: “We’re extremely grateful for this grant from Cheshire Freemasons, which will help members of the LGBTQ+ community who want to access our services feel like they have a safe, supportive, and welcoming space to do so.

“Palliative and end of life care is about having one chance to get it right, so it’s really important that people from all communities feel comfortable and are able to talk about everything that’s important to them, including their gender identity and sexuality.”

The grant from Cheshire Freemasons is through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which is funded by freemasons, their families and friends, from across England and Wales.

Harry Wright, from Cheshire Freemasons, said: “I’m very pleased that we’re supporting this vital project which is working hard to help more members of the LGBTQ+ community feel like they’re welcome to access health services and support.

“Although it’s a great shame that there is still a need for this kind of work, I’m very glad that these three hospices are reinforcing their commitment to treat all patients with respect, regardless of their sexuality or gender.”

Margaret Lillis: a headteacher turned chaplain who walked humbly with thousands of relatives.  

Always interested in the human condition, Margaret Lillis had a gift that made her an attentive listener who connected profoundly with those experiencing life challenges. It was a gift she generously shared with so many over more than 50 years firstly as a Catholic Sister, teacher/headteacher, Diocesan Schools Advisor and most recently as Chaplain at East Cheshire Hospice.

Margaret, who died peacefully aged 74 on 21 May 2022 after being diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer earlier, leaves an indelible mark on the hearts of those whom she helped throughout her life.

A woman of deep faith, she joined the Ursuline Convent, Brentwood in her native Essex in 1966, and after 20 years Margaret decided to follow her vocation outside the religious order but still very much following its charism. In 1986 she came north, first teaching in Warrington before taking up a post at St Edward’s Catholic Primary School in Macclesfield Margaret was appointed Headteacher at St Paul’s Primary in Poynton in 1997, a position she relished. Realising that her talents could be used for the benefit of many more children and schools, she was asked to be the Assistant Director of Schools for the Shrewsbury Diocese which she did until she retired in 2011.

Having served others her whole life, Margaret didn’t take well to retirement, so she started to volunteer on the wards at East Cheshire Hospice, making tea and chatting to patients and family members. Her gift as a listener was spotted by the hospice chaplain who asked her to join the chaplaincy team and when he relocated to West Yorkshire in 2016, Margaret was the obvious choice to replace him in the lead role.

Admitting the job could be very challenging, but despite the all-consuming nature of her work Margaret also described it as “the greatest privilege I’ve ever had.” She made herself available 24/7 for patients, family members, staff and volunteers and on the odd occasion she went home, she could be heard saying ‘I’m leaving now, but I can always come back’ which was much appreciated by the thousands of patients and family members who received her special brand of compassion.

Not having children of her own, Margaret felt blessed to be an aunt, great-aunt, Godmother and Great-Godmother, roles she took on with gusto and brought love and laughter to all the precious young people in her life.

Margaret loved relaxing by playing her guitar, in fact music and musicals were a constant source of entertainment throughout her life, and she never missed an opportunity to get a room full of people singing.

Her Christian faith was very important to her, but she never assumed anything about others’ spirituality. She joined everyone on their journey and walked beside them at their own pace. She was guided in her ministry by the words of the minor prophet, Micah, who when asked, ‘What does your Lord require of you? Answered, ‘To act justly, to love tenderly, and to walk humbly with your God.’ So many people can attest that she truly lived her life by those words.

Margaret Lillis’s requiem Mass will be held at 12 noon on Tuesday 21 June 2022 at St Alban’s Catholic Church, Chester Road Macclesfield, with a committal service at Macclesfield Crematorium, Prestbury Road at 2pm, followed by a wake to celebrate her life, at the Packhorse Bowling Club, Abbey Road, Macclesfield.

Everyone is invited to one or all the celebrations.

There are two online fundraisers in memory of Margaret. You can donate to East Cheshire Hospice in memory of Margaret by clicking here. Or donate to CAFOD by clicking here.