The two respected founders of Blythe House and Helen’s Trust have been acknowledged, for decades of dedicated service.
Reverend Elizabeth ‘Betty’ Packham and Dr Louise Jordan – founders of Blythe House Hospicecare and Helen’s Trust respectively – have been made founding patrons of the charities.
The commemorative plaque which will be mounted in the hospice’s reception area.
The two ardent community stalwarts have devoted years of voluntary service to establishing the well-known and valued local charities, and shaping them to what they are today.
A special ceremony took place during the charities’ annual general meeting on Monday 21st November, where a commemorative plaque was unveiled which will be mounted in the hospice’s reception area.
Following the sad news of Betty’s death earlier this month, a minute-silence was held to pay respects to the charity’s founder.
Blythe House Hospicecare was established in 1989, in memory of Stan Blythe, who left a £1,000 legacy in his will when he died. Betty cared for Stan in the comfort of her home during the final weeks of his life.
Helen’s Trust was founded in 2001, in memory of Helen Lyon who died at home in Froggatt after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Dr Jordan – who worked at Baslow Medical Centre for 25 years before retiring in May 2022 – was a founding trustee of the charity.
Blythe House and Helen’s Trust have worked in partnership since April 2020, enabling them to reach and provide care to more patients across the High Peak, Hope Valley, Derbyshire Dales, Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire.
Since the partnership began, the charities have worked together to provide over 42,600 hours of care to 839 patients across North Derbyshire, with 480 of those people dying in the comfort of their home, surrounded by their loved ones.
Forever indebted to their service
Tim Mourne, chair of the board of trustees for Blythe House and Helen’s Trust, said: ‘It is an honour for me to say a sincere and grateful thank you to Betty and Louise for everything that they have done for both Blythe House and Helen’s Trust during the past three decades. Their commitment, devotion and genuine love for both charities have seen them grow and thrive – becoming two of the most well-known and beloved charities in our community. We will be forever indebted to their service.
‘Making both Betty and Louise founding patrons of the charities is just a very small way that we can honour and give thanks for everything they have achieved. As a whole hospice and community, we are proud, grateful and humbled by their accomplishments. We hope to continue to do them both proud by building on the charities’ amazing legacies now and well into the future.’
Rev. Betty Packham
Tributes to Betty
Simon Cocksedge, volunteer at Blythe House Hospicecare and former chair of the charity, gave a fitting tribute to Betty: ‘She achieved so much in her lifetime; Betty was a devoted teacher in Africa and Buxton, who became the first woman parish priest in Derbyshire; and she then went on to establish Blythe House in Stan’s memory, at 137 Manchester Road in Chapel-en-le-Frith.
‘As the hospice grew and grew over the years, Betty was still heavily involved, sitting on the board of trustees; providing volunteer support to patients and staff, and becoming the hospice’s first chaplain. Betty’s kind nature and genuine humanity is what made her so approachable, and so good at what she did.’
Anne Cawthorn MBE, a member of the hospice’s board of trustees and a close friend to Betty, accepted an engraved glass plaque for Betty on behalf of her family.
Anne said: ‘I am privileged to accept this on behalf of Betty’s loved ones. We all owe a great debt to Betty, and she will never be forgotten.’
Anne Cawthorn and Dr Louise Jordan.
Recognition of Dr Louise Jordan’s distinguished career
Dr Louise Jordan, who attended the ceremony alongside her partner, Rob was acknowledged for her career-long commitment to supporting patients to die with dignity in the comfort of their own home.
Dr Sarah Parnacott, consultant in palliative medicine and member of the board of trustees at Blythe House and Helen’s Trust, said: ‘We met when I started as a new consultant at Ashgate Hospice in 2002. At that stage, you were one of the day hospice doctors managing patients’ symptoms; you had been involved with the hospice movement for many years.
‘You told me that you were in the process of setting up a charity in memory of Helen Lyons; a lady who had died of metastatic breast cancer, who you had cared for at home. You had the insight of seeing that the practical services were not there to care for Helen and her family, and the challenges that families were having to manage in order to make that a reality. Your passion, determination, commitment and energy for caring for those facing a life-limiting illness shone through. You had the vision to strive for change and the charity was created.
‘It was again, your visionary leadership that led to the successful partnership of Helen’s Trust with Blythe House in 2020. The two charities had similar aims and objectives, and wanted to meet the needs of the community. The seamless marriage has been a success and you should be outstandingly proud of the organisation as it moves forward into this next chapter of its history.’
(L-R): Tim Mourne, chair of the board of trustees; Anne Cawthorn MBE, member of the board of trustees; Dr Louise Jordan, founding patron; and Shane O’Reilly, CEO at Blythe House and Helen’s Trust.
Ruth Brown, previous Hospice at Home manager at Blythe House and Helen’s Trust, and now member of the hospice’s board of trustees, commented: ‘I have known Dr Jordan for many years since being an auxiliary nurse at Baslow Medical Centre, to becoming community matron after undertaking my nursing degree.
‘Louise changed the landscape when she came to the surgery – everyone was so excited to have her there. She was dynamic, innovative; she put caring for an ageing population in a rural community on the agenda, and we featured on the television show, The Real Peak Practice.
‘I have learnt so much from her and keep all Louise’s great advice in my “tool box,” from speaking to patients with such respect and compassion, to sharing bad news with patients and their families. I bow to you Louise, and I thank you for everything you have achieved in your long and celebrated career.’
Sarah Rowland, a solicitor, was a long-standing trustee on the Helen’s Trust board alongside Dr Jordan, before they both joined the Blythe House board when the two charities partnered in 2020.
Sarah presented Dr Jordan with her commemorative plaque and said: ‘It is not the same without you; but we will work hard to continue the incredible work that you started all those years ago.’
Tim Mourne, chair of the board of trustees, and Dr Louise Jordan, founding patron, unveil the plaque during the AGM
Thank you for this honour
After receiving an engraved glass plaque, and unveiling the large commemorative tile for the hospice’s reception, Dr Louise Jordan said: ‘Thank you for this great honour. I became a founding trustee of Helen’s Trust back in 2001, when dying at home was very difficult.
‘Alongside an energetic and passionate board of trustees, we were able to ensure that this vital choice became more available to more local people in our communities. To trustees past and present, I thank you. Now, with the combined forces of the two charities together, we will ensure we’re able to provide more care at home to even more local patients. Together, we are better.’
The annual general meeting also saw the re-election of trustees to the board including Tim Mourne as chair, Delia Butler as deputy chair and treasurer, Dr Sarah Parnacott as chair of the clinical sub-committee, and Sarah Rowland as board secretary. Wendy Brown was elected as the hospice’s freedom to speak up guardian.
