21 Dec 2016 Community

Kirkwood Hospice’s Celebration of Christmas 2016

On the afternoon of Thursday 15th December, Kirkwood Hospice was filled with people, carols and mince pies as we celebrated our annual Celebration of Christmas event.

Every year, patients, staff, friends and family are warmly welcomed to join together and begin their Christmas celebrations at the free event held at the Hospice in Dalton.

This year was no exception, with the Hospice Meeting Space full to the brim for the two hour event, held during the day for the first time.

Throughout the service, guests were invited to participate in a selection of traditional Christmas Carols accompanied by the Honley Male Voice Choir, including In the Bleak Midwinter, While Shepherds Watch’d their Flocks and our very own Kirkwood Carol. A selection of readings were also delivered by Kirkwood Hospice’s Chaplain and Spiritual Care Co-ordinator, Jonathan Sharp.

 

In the run up to the event, staff, volunteers and patients were invited to contribute their own short pieces to be read aloud at the event around this year’s theme of ‘I heard the angels singing, and this is what they said.’

Sentiments submitted included “Kirkwood Hospice is more than we were expecting. The experience I’ve had over the last two weeks has been overwhelming. It’s an absolutely amazing place and every member of staff has been so kind, caring and friendly.”

“Kirkwood Hospice is just what we were hoping for. It is comfort, love, protection, safety and hope. In this place, we’re at ease.”

 

Before the event began, a gold tea light had been placed on each seat and guests were encouraged to hold their candle to pause and reflect on this year and think of their needs and the needs of loved ones.

While being supplied with refreshments during the event’s interval, participants wrote personal messages on star tree decorations to hang on the Christmas tree made out of egg boxes by staff and patients in the Hospice’s Support & Therapy department.

A decoration hangs on the Christmas tree made out of eggboxes

 

After the break, it was the visitors turn to sit back and enjoy the magnificent sound of the Honley Male Voice Choir as they performed a medley of Christmas songs from their recent concert, including their hilariously amended rendition of ‘The 12 Days of Christmas’.

The Honley Male Voice Choir

 

Speaking at the event and reflecting on the work done at the Hospice throughout the year, Jonathan Sharp said: “At Kirkwood Hospice we bring a lot of ourselves and we bring a lot of our hearts. All of our wonderful staff and volunteers share from their hearts here, but also all the patients, relatives and carers offer a lot from their hearts too.”

"It is always the Christmas Celebration that makes Kirkwood Hospice feel special at this time of year." Elaine Gill

Hospice Sister, Elaine Gill, felt emotional about what the celebration means to the Hospice after arranging for the Choir to perform for Kirkwood Hospice’s In-Patient Unit on Christmas Eve.

“For me, it is always the Christmas Celebration that makes Kirkwood Hospice feel special at this time of year and makes it really feel like Christmas. After all, music is what makes Christmas, Christmas.”