After 36 years of service, Trish will be retiring on Monday 29th September, with colleagues holding a 'clap-out' after her final shift.
Trish began her career with Saint Michael’s in 1989, joining the charity’s very first inpatient unit at the Convent of the Holy Child Jesus at Apley Grange.
A mother of two young children, she was about to begin her first ever night shift:
“I’d never worked in palliative care before. But I was struck right away by the warmth and compassion of the team. It was different to anything I’d experienced before.”
She was also there in 1994, when Saint Michael’s moved to Crimple House. On one of the very first nights, she stayed in the unfinished building to help prepare it so the hospice could welcome patients. Since then, Saint Michael’s has truly been her second home.
Throughout her career, Trish chose to work nights, finding something unique in the stillness of those hours.
“The nights are different. It’s quiet, and you can spend real one-to-one time with patients and families. People open up. You build special connections.”
One of her most treasured memories is of a patient whose last wish was a glass of champagne.
“She was very poorly, but she wanted that taste. So we popped the cork, and through the night we helped her to sip the champagne. When she grew too weak, we dipped mouthcare sponges into the glass so she could still enjoy it. Those little moments stay with you forever. Nursing is not just about medicine, it’s about dignity, love, and joy.”
Behind Trish’s extraordinary career has been her family. Her husband, Kevan, drove her to and from every single shift for nearly four decades.
Their children grew up with the hospice woven into their lives, waiting on Christmas morning until Trish returned home to open presents together.
Last year, her daughter Rachael honoured her mother’s service by running the Great North Run and raising funds for Saint Michael’s.
Now, as she prepares for retirement, Trish is looking forward to time with her grandchildren, fishing trips with her husband, and a long-dreamed-of holiday in Switzerland.
“The laughter, the support, the togetherness. We’ve shared tears, yes, but so much joy too. Saint Michael’s has been a huge part of my life. It always will be.”
Trish’s story sits at the heart of Saint Michael’s new 'Faces Behind the Care' campaign, which celebrates the people who bring warmth, expertise, and love to every moment of hospice care.
“We can only do what we do because people support us. Please, carry on supporting us. This hospice belongs to the community, and it needs you.”
To donate or find out more, visit: https://saintmichaelshospice.org/support-our-work/donate/faces-behind-the-care.
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