One of the “original seven” founders of The Kirkwood, Vera Drake, celebrated her 100th birthday with a visit from the King’s representative, Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire Ed Anderson.
Vera reached her milestone birthday on Tuesday October 29 and also met hospice chief executive Michael Crowther and chatted to him about how the hospice came about.
The story of The Kirkwood began in June 1981 after a play entitled: ‘Going Gently’ aired on BBC2, depicting the isolation and fear of two men facing terminal illnesses in a stark hospital ward.
The message resonated with Vera and others who saw the urgent need for a compassionate environment where people could find dignity and support in their final days.
Following the play, a moving review was published in the Huddersfield Examiner, which emphasised the value of the hospice movement and highlighted the absence of hospice facilities in Huddersfield.
David Stocks, who had watched his father die from cancer at home because there were no other care options, was compelled to act.
He wrote to the Examiner, stressing the need for a local hospice and inviting like-minded individuals to join him.
Vera was the first to respond. She recalls the moment vividly and said: “One Saturday there was a letter in the paper suggesting we needed a hospice and inviting like-minded people to get in touch.
“I put the paper down, picked up the phone and called David. He said I was the first person to contact him.”
Asked why she felt compelled to get involved, Vera said: “My son’s friend’s wife died in her early 30s, leaving behind four children. She was cared for medically but not in the right way, it was in an old folks’ home.
“Back then, you either received care in a hospital or in a home, and it didn’t feel right. Whilst they kept her clean and comfortable, she was in an old folks’ ward, with no one to talk to. I thought: ‘This isn’t right.’ That’s when I started reading about hospices.”
With a small group forming around David’s vision, Vera, David, Dr Alan Barlow and a few others began meeting regularly.
“Over the next month, a few more people joined us,” said Vera. “We decided early on that we’d raise funds simply by asking for donations, and it worked.”
The Huddersfield Hospice Appeal was born that night with a humble beginning of just £4.50. But within three months, they had raised £10,000.
Local support continued to grow, and soon the Dewsbury Hospice Appeal merged with theirs, creating a united effort to build a hospice for Kirklees.
Vera took an active role in creating local support groups and spreading awareness. Yet she recalls the initial challenges in explaining their mission.
“When we first started, people didn’t really know what a hospice was, though most understood cancer,” she said.
“We wanted to give people a space to talk about it and to care for those living with it. It amazes me that, even now, some people still don’t know what a hospice is or why it’s needed.”
By 1987, after years of persistent community fundraising and tireless work, The Kirkwood finally opened its doors, providing compassionate care for local people living with life-limiting illnesses and supporting their families free of charge.
Since then, The Kirkwood has evolved into a community-wide movement of medical professionals, patients, families and volunteers dedicated to providing exceptional end-of-life care.
Vera added: “I’m grateful the hospice has continued, it was a dream come true to create it. Considering the amount we had to raise, I’m proud we succeeded. We made mistakes, of course, but who doesn’t?”
Vera described the opening of the hospice as the fulfilment of a unique dream shared by “the original seven” who gathered with David Stocks.
“We all have a dream in life; some people dream of flying around the world and going on nice holidays,” she said.
“The original seven of us dreamed of caring for people in the right way, showing compassion and kindness when it was needed most.”
The Kirkwood’s Light Up a Life is about remembering a loved one and celebrating together
