Hospiscare - where friends are found and memories made

Bob Rutter, aged 76, and his wife Sue have lived in Seaton for the past 18 years. After a 40 year career as a pub landlord, Bob was enjoying an active and sociable retirement playing bowls and golf when he was diagnosed with a rare cancer, lymphoma in the brain.

Shortly after receiving the devastating news, Bob was referred to local charity Hospiscare and has been attending weekly sessions at Kings House Day Hospice in Honiton.  Here, Bob has met and made friends with other people who are going through a similar experience to him.  One of those friends was a patient called Gill.  Bob and Gill sat next to each other on their Thursday visits to Kings House and Bob recalls: “Gill was a lovely lady, she couldn’t speak much because of her illness but she joined in with everything and was a great listener.”

When Gill died in 2017, her husband Paul kindly donated Gill’s mobility scooter to Hospiscare.  Bob had never considered using this mode of transport before but was encouraged by the Hospiscare team to give it a go.

Bob’s wife Sue said: “I didn’t think Bob would be able to cope with the scooter.  The day it arrived Toni Hiscocks who works at Kings House as an Assistant Practitioner and Care Navigator Coordinator convinced Bob to have a go.  By coincidence on that day I had also come into Kings House for some complementary therapy.  So Toni ushered me off for my massage and said ‘Don’t worry Sue, we’ll get him up and running!’

“I was convinced it wasn’t a good idea, but by the time my massage had finished Bob was bombing around, tooting the horn and it was brilliant.  Bob and I have been married for 55 years and have three lovely sons and daughters-in-law and they have all been wonderful since Bob’s diagnosis, but the illness has been really difficult for the family.  This scooter has given Bob back some independence and it’s great to see.”  

Bob commented: “I gave Hospiscare a donation for the scooter and I’ve been using it ever since.  Me and the wife go out all the time along the seafront and into town.  I joke to Sue that she’ll need to get some plimsolls to keep up with me as I haven’t even opened it up to top speed yet.  I used to have a wheelchair and Sue would have to push me, but now it feels like I’ve got a Ferrari!

“I think my friend Gill would have loved it if she knew I was making good use of her wheels.”

Sue added: “Bob is like the cat that got the cream on that scooter, it’s given him something to be in charge of again and the freedom to get out and about.  He would never have even tried a scooter before this.  We are so grateful to Gill and Hospiscare for making this happen.”

Hospiscare is a local adult hospice charity, providing high quality care and support to people with any type of life-limiting illness, and those close to them, in Exeter, Mid and East Devon.  A gift to Hospiscare in your Will helps to ensure the future of the charity in Devon for generations to come.