Volunteers have been honoured for their work at Southampton General Hospital

Now volunteers at Southampton General Hospital have been recognised with awards and honours at a special ceremony.

Nearly 100 volunteers – who represent an amazing 665 years of service to the NHS – gathered to receive their honours from Mayor of Southampton, Councillor Sue Blatchford.

Taking home Volunteer of the Year was Grace Chaplin, who is one of the hospital’s youngest volunteers at the age of 18.

At the other end of the scale recognised for a special award was Ivy Abraham, who is nearly 100 and has been helping the hospital for 31 years.

Joining her was Nellie Noyce who has clocked up staggering 74 years of experience in the NHS.

The event also remembered some of the hospital’s heroes who passed away including long-serving volunteer Reg Lowman, who had completed 65 years of service, Hilda Kemp, the hospital’s oldest volunteer at 102 and children’s outpatients stalwart Winston Crosby.

The volunteers also paid their respects in memory of Paul Cantlie who passed away this year, aged 80. He volunteered in the laryngectomy clinic and was a former hospital governor. Tragically he died before knowing the fate of his son Paul, who is being held hostage by Islamic State.

Voluntary services manager Kim Sutton said: “This is about just stopping and recognising all the community gives to the hospital and that is what makes it so special.

“Volunteers are there to complement the staff. If you take them out of the NHS Trust the hospital would be a much poorer place and a much sadder place.”

And we spoke to some of the volunteers who make such a difference to the hospital:

• Karla Gunn

WITH her smile and friendly nature Karla Gunn is a woman that many can never forget.

She has played a role at the hospital for nearly 70 years and helps out with a “bit of everything”.

The 84-year-old started work at the hospital as a domestic in 1951 and had a break for ten years before returning to complete a total of 40 years.

When she retired ten years ago she was so upset she decided to stay on as a volunteer two to three days a week.

Karla, who lives in Lordshill, said: “I do love it, I love talking to people and helping them. I meet all sorts of people and many of them smile and say ‘you’re still here then’.

I like helping people and it is seeing smiles on people’s faces and I love coming in, I am very grateful I can still work.”

She has no plans to stop volunteering and hopes she can continue for as long as her body allows her.

• Grace Chaplin

SHE has only been volunteering at Southampton General Hospital for 18 months.

But in that time Grace Chaplin has made a massive impact and was recognised as the Volunteer of the Year.

The 18-year-old gives up a day each week to do what she says is a “bit of everything”.

She supports clinical staff and also helps out in the reception and ensures that patients are all right.

“I get to meet so many different people and people from all walks of life and seeing how doctors and nurses work and seeing that you can make a difference,”

said the Peter Symonds College student, who lives in Hedge End.

“It is one of the biggest factors in consolidating why I want to be a doctor. It is just a great experience.”

She is also trying to get more young people to give up their time and has started an e-newsletter to support the hospital to keep student volunteers, and also is a trainer and mentor for them.

• Sue Cole

WALKING around Southampton General Hospital usually takes Sue Cole hours.

The Pets as Therapy (PAT) dog volunteer is always being stopped in the corridors by people who want to stroke her border collie Heti.

The pair regularly visit the hospital every Wednesday afternoon where they see people in various wards who have asked to see a dog.

Heti, who is just 20 months old, has some big paws to fill. Sue’s former dog, Cognac, sadly passed away last year after eight years’ service at the hospital.

It all started for Mrs Cole back in 2001 when she took Cognac to care homes and saw the effect he had on people.

It was a chance meeting with a stranger that saw her recommended to Southampton General Hospital and now she has been rewarded for ten years of service.

Sue, 65, who lives in Romsey, said: “Seeing Heti makes people smile.

“Sometimes we come into the hospital and see people are sad – but then they see Heti and their faces light up and they smile and become more relaxed – it just feels wonderful.”

• Lyndsey Uglow

LYNDSEY Uglow is Southampton General Hospital’s most soughtafter volunteer.

The mum-of-two from Botley has been using puppy power to help bring joy to people in the hospital Lyndsey is a Pets as Therapy (PAT) volunteer and she is regularly seen walking around the hospital with her golden retriever Leo, 2, where they visit various wards once a week including GICU, G1, G2, G3, G4 and the Piam Brown ward.

She also fundraises for children’s charity Clic Sargent as the cause is very close to Lyndsey’s heart as her son Ollie who is now 16, was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia in 2008, and she said she always wanted to give something back.

As well as volunteering Lyndsey also owns Giraffe Embroidery in Botley and lives with her husband Mike Uglow, who works as an orthopaedic consultant at Southampton General Hospital.