Ray, Maintenance & Estates Manager

I started here 28 years ago. I just got a good feeling at the interview that this is where I wanted to work. I came to join the Maintenance and Driving Team. Back then, at 08.30 my first job was to collect the Day Hospice Nurses then to drive around Leeds collecting patients visiting the Day Hospice. There were some real characters and some fantastic people – we always had a laugh.

The patients keep me motivated over the years; I think we’re all the same here. I’m supposed to finish at 16.30 but if there’s a patient that needs any maintenance repairs, such as a broken TV or something, I would stay until the job is sorted for them and they are happy.

I’ve been here nearly 29 years now but it doesn’t feel like it. The time just flies by. In 28 years I think I’ve only missed working at one Garden Party and I’ve worked at every Light up a Life event. We always get the thousands of lights on the trees just in time for the event to start; it takes a good fortnight in all weathers to do, on top of day to day duties, but it’s worth it seeing the trees lit up in the car park for the festive season.

I feel that my role here is important supporting the other teams to care for the patients. I love making sure that if something needs doing, it gets done as best you can. If there is a problem you’ve got to make sure it’s resolved as soon as possible. The patients always come first.

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