The annual Southport Flower Show has seen scores of blooming great celebrities over the years, with the likes of Norman Wisdom, Jean Alexander, Suranne Jones, Carol Vorderman, Jean-Christophe Novelli, Charlie Dimmock, Alan Titchmarsh, Diarmuid Gavin, Ainsley Harriott and many more.
But rarely can any Flower Show opener be as popular as this year’s – local Community Champion Dr Karen Groves MBE, who founded Queenscourt Hospice 31 years ago.
The hospice is based in Southport but cares for around 2,000 families in West Lancashire, Southport and Formby every year, both at the facility itself – which was officially opened by Princess Diana on 11th June 1992 – and also at home.
That’s a huge number of people locally whose lives have been directly impacted over the past three decades by the incredible work carried out by Dr Groves and by her colleagues.
It has, and remains, far from an easy challenge. Only a fifth of the funding needed comes from the NHS, while every other penny is raised through events such as the Star Trekk walk, the Santa Sprint, local businesses choosing Queenscourt as their Charity of the Year, individual fundraising events, or through the weekly Queenscourt Lottery.
This Saturday people at Southport Flower Show will be supporting Queenscourt through the Summer Ball, one of the highlights on the Southport social calendar.
The huge delight at seeing Dr Groves being invited to open this year’s Southport Flower Show was evident on the Queenscourt Hospice Facebook page, which saw over 800 people Liking the news – with scores of heartwarming comments.
One said: “Karen treated and cared for my dad 15 years ago at Queenscourt hospice. She is a truly brilliant person and Doctor. She made my Dad’s last few days as comfortable as they could be. Eternally grateful for what you did for him and us. So glad you’re being recognised for your commitment to the hospice and the people and families of Southport.”
Another said: “A very special lady who looked after my Mum. I will never forget all of the support you gave to my family.”
Another said: “One of the most inspirational ladies I’ve met!! A dedicated ambassador of palliative care. Fabulously well deserved!!”
Another said: “Karen, can’t think of anyone more qualified to be a local hero. Your dedication to the care of the dying is so admirable, and we are proud to know you.”
Another said: “Very much deserved! Even as a GP all those years ago she helped me in ways no-one else could when I lost my little girl – without even realising it she was the person who brought me the most comfort and I still remember her care and the words she said to me.”
Another said: “So many lovely tributes and deservedly so. Not only is she a fantastic doctor, but an awesome colleague and teacher too. There are many healthcare professionals who are better at their jobs due to Karen’s influence. Good decision from the flower show!”
There were dozens of other very moving tributes and words of congratulation too.
Scarcely can a Southport Flower Show opener be so deserving of the honour.
After qualifying as a medical doctor from Liverpool University in 1979, Dr Groves first identified the need for better end of life care after experiencing two particularly traumatic deaths in young women.
She went on to work as a GP in the Southport area for over 12 years and it was during this time that she and her sister Sarah, a nurse, sought advice from Dame Cicely Saunders, founder of the hospice movement in London.
On their return they inspired a small group of people to begin fundraising and after much hard work, planning permission for Queenscourt Hospice was granted in December 1988.
Mayor Cllr Maureen Fearn cut the first turf on March 14th, 1990 and planted a copper beech tree which still grows to the left of the entrance to what is now the Terence Burgess Education Centre.
The Hospice building was handed over on 1st March, 1991 and the next two months were spent fitting it out ready for occupation.
Queenscourt opened its Day Therapy and five inpatient beds on June 1st 1991 and later that year increased to a 10-bed ward.
The following year, Diana, Princess of Wales officially opened Queenscourt. Dr Groves had been a volunteer doctor at the hospice for five years, while still working full time as a GP, until she was appointed as Medical Officer in 1995.
In 1996, she became the first local consultant in Palliative Medicine; in 2012, Dr Groves was awarded an honorary degree from Edge Hill University and in 2014 received an MBE for Services to Palliative Care.
The 2022 Southport Flower Show, sponsored by Home Bargains, takes place from Thursday, 18th August 2022 and runs until Sunday, 21st August 2022 with action-packed displays and fun activities lined up for all the family – kids under 16 go free.
For more information and to buy tickets visit www.southportflowershow.co.uk.
Would you like to support the work of Queenscourt Hospice? For £1 a week you can sign up to the weekly Queenscourt Lottery here, with the chance to win prizes of up to £1,500 each week. You must be 18 or over to play. Please be Gamble Aware.
Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrown@gmail.com
