Rotherham Hospice has been presented with a blue plaque by the Yorkshire Society, in recognition of 30 years of caring for people across the community.
The plaque was unveiled at the hospice’s site on Broom Road on Tuesday 8th September, with members of the Yorkshire Society, hospice staff and hospice ambassadors gathered to see it revealed.
The Yorkshire Society’s blue plaque scheme celebrates people, places and organisations that have made a lasting difference to life in Yorkshire. Rotherham Hospice has cared for over 50,000 patients since it first opened its doors in 1996, supporting people at some of life’s most difficult moments and standing alongside their families.
Speaking at the unveiling, Deputy Chairman of the Yorkshire Society, Colonel Stephen Padgett OBE, said it was “an absolute joy and a privilege” to mark three decades of the hospice’s contribution to the local community.
“It makes such a massive difference to so many people’s lives, so well done,” he said. “The Yorkshire Society was moved knowing your story to ask if you’d accept from us a blue plaque, which helps to mark that achievement and make everybody, perhaps if they didn’t already realise it, recognise that what you do is appreciated. Thank you very much.”
Mat Cottle-Shaw, CEO of Rotherham Hospice, said: “This blue plaque means a huge amount to everyone here at Rotherham Hospice. For 30 years we’ve been honoured to care for people in our community at some of the most difficult moments of their lives, and to be recognised by the Yorkshire Society in this way is a wonderful way to mark that milestone. None of it would be possible without our staff, volunteers, ambassadors and supporters, and I want to thank them, and the Yorkshire Society, for such a special day.”
The unveiling forms part of Rotherham Hospice’s 30th anniversary year, celebrated under the theme ‘30 years of Living Life’s Wishes’, marking three decades of care for people facing terminal illness and their families.