This Friday 26th April it is the 25th anniversary of the tragic and untimely death of Jill Dando. Jill was a highly successful television presenter and a hugely popular figure during the 1990s. She was only 37 years old when she was murdered.
Jill, herself from Weston-super-Mare, readily agreed to become the Patron of Weston Hospicecare in 1996 and headed up an appeal to fund a much-needed In-Patient Unit.
Les Fake, who was the Chair of the charity at the time remembers, “Jill’s visits brought a ray of sunshine to Weston Hospicecare. She brought happiness and her inimitable ‘girl next door’ friendliness to the staff, volunteers and most importantly the patients who would talk about her for weeks after”.
Her support was a huge boon for Weston Hospicecare in those important early years and it is in no small part thanks to her that today, the hospice continues to deliver exceptional palliative and end-of-life care, through a broad range of services, to more people than ever. Indeed, it is a lasting legacy of this extraordinary woman and the impact she made in all spheres of her life.
As a tribute to Jill, the hospice Jill Dando Fund was established in 2019 to help dreams come true and create extra special memories for patients and their families. Some examples include: in 2021 the fund paid for a patient and his loved ones to have a final family holiday all together on the south coast of England; in 2022 the fund helped pay for a patient’s wedding in the hospice; and in 2023 a patient who had always dreamed of going on safari was able to visit a safari park with her family; and there are many more examples of these ways in which Jill’s influence continues to touch the lives of local people.
Weston Hospicecare is marking Friday’s anniversary with a gathering of staff for a time of reflection and appreciation of Jill’s life and her contribution to Weston Hospicecare, with all our sites invited to partake in a minute’s silence, as we remember this remarkable lady.
If you would like to make a donation in Jill’s memory please click here