Management and trustees

Jim is a specialist in palliative medicine and the lead clinician for the inpatient unit at St Michael’s Hospice. He is involved in the delivery of the wider strategic management of palliative care provision for St Michael’s. Previously, he worked in various roles across the South West, including hospices, a specialist supportive care team for cancer patients in Cheltenham, and as a GP partner in North Somerset. No stranger to working for charities, Jim was formerly an RNLI lifeboat crew member and station doctor prior to moving away from the coast. In addition to leading the care of patients in the inpatient unit he holds regular outpatient clinics. Jim works closely with his colleagues in the community and county hospital to provide an integrated palliative care service across the county and neighbouring areas. Jim has a particular interest in the management of long-term medical conditions and medical education.

Having trained in the West Midlands, Maddy returned to Herefordshire to take up her consultant post which encompasses the strategic vision for community specialist palliative care across the county, with clinical practice within the hospice and the Wye Valley Trust specialist palliative care team. This way of working champions integrated care across settings, seeking continuity and seamless experience of services for our patients and those important to them. Living just over the border into Worcestershire, Maddy enjoys a busy life with her young family.

Sally joined in August 2004. She completed her specialist training in the West Midlands and worked in Australia for a year before returning to the UK to take up a substantive post in Herefordshire. She is particularly motivated by the challenge of developing seamless service provision and care for patients across a complex healthcare system. She also enjoys teaching colleagues in all disciplines to help promote excellent palliative care practice. Since the appointment of the new senior colleagues forming a team that now spans the whole locality of Herefordshire and mid Powys, she has been able to step back into a role at Hereford County Hospital whilst looking forward to retirement in the coming year.

Alister was made a life patron in 2021. He began offering his experience to St Michael’s as a volunteer in the gardens before becoming a trustee in 2003. He spent 17 years on the board of trustees and was Chair for 11, during which time he made an incredible contribution to the Hospice. Alister owns Hereford-based estate agency Stooke Hill & Walshe, and he runs a small farm as a hobby.

Jeffrey was made a life patron in 2018 in recognition of his dedication, commitment and hard work in founding St Michael’s. He was one of six people, including Freda Pearce and Dr Richard Miller, who were the prime movers in getting the Herefordshire Hospice started in 1979. Jeffrey served as Chair of the Freda Pearce Foundation and then President until the Foundation joined the Hospice Trust to form the current charity. Jeffrey came to Hereford in 1970 as the first consultant in Haematology to the Herefordshire Health Authority and remained until retirement in 1998.

Richard was made a life patron in 2018 in honour of his support and commitment to St Michael’s. Along with Freda Pearce and Dr Jeffrey Kramer, Richard was one of the six people who met in his front room in September 1979 to launch the Freda Pearce Foundation to plan and raise funds for St Michael’s Hospice. He was a member of the Foundation until it merged with the Hospice Trust. Richard retired as a trustee in 2014 but remains deeply committed to the Hospice. Richard came to Hereford in 1963 where he worked as a houseman at Hereford County Hospital for a year. He then entered general practice at Moorfield House Surgery where he developed an interest in end-of-life care. He retired in 1994 and sadly died in 2024.