John is a wonderfully chatty, (almost) octogenarian who recently spent some time in Alice House Hospice whilst dealing with a diagnosis of prostate and bone cancer.

John has had a full and exciting life, starting out as the only boy of a family from Dawlish, Devon he went on to travel the world with his career as a Plater/Template maker spending time in Zambia, South Africa and Qatar.

He remembers his life in Devon fondly and spoke with passion about the wonderful countryside and of course the regional foods, the Devonshire Pasty (favoured over the Cornish Pasty) and the Junket pudding which his mum used to make. He would swim each Boxing Day morning (somewhat reluctantly) with his Dad and was told ‘it’s just something we do’, laughing he tells me ‘not anymore!’

It was in Zambia that he met his wife ‘Geordie lass’ Lovelia, and have been together for almost 50 years now. It was Lovelia who brought him eventually to settle in the North East; “I still worked abroad after we settled here; Lovelia tells me that’s the secret to a long and happy marriage”, he laughed.

John and Lovelia have three grownup children, Martin, John and Ginny and three gorgeous grandchildren Lilly and twins Holly and Jacob. John was incredibly proud to tell me that Lilly received outstanding GCSE results just that day.

Lovelia is his full-time carer and he tells me, “She has a will of cast iron and really deserves a break, she will be enjoying lunch in Trenchers Fish and Chip Restaurant in Whitby today while I’m being looked after here.”

John had experience of Alice House before spending time in the Inpatient Unit as he attended the Friday Men’s Club at Day Hospice up until it closed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. He made some good friends there, one chap in particular, Brian he remembers fondly.

Speaking about his current stay, John said, “Coming to Alice House has given Lovelia the chance to enjoy a well-earned break from caring for me and the staff here are wonderful, helpful and willing.

The doctor caring for me even made me a cup of tea today – no airs and graces just caring!

John loves music and even brought his much-loved guitar with him for his stay. He serenaded staff with bursts of Amazing Grace as they swapped shifts and whilst we chatted in the garden he played a few verses of Hotel California for us.

John continued, “The food is great and the kitchen staff have made sure my portions are just the right size and even make me some sandwiches for during the night as I get peckish between tea and breakfast!

It would be easy to describe this place as wonderful or lovely but that just isn’t enough.

“To say the staff are professional is absolutely correct but a bit too ‘stiff’, I would describe it as somewhere that is ‘warm’ in itself.

Alice House is a warm and friendly place where I have been cared for by willing staff with joyous hearts.”

John Higgs