28. Monica Atkinson

In the year that Weldmar Hospicecare turns 30, Monica Atkinson celebrated her 90th birthday. Monica has been a regular volunteer at our charity shop in Sherborne since October 1999.

“I had retired in the February of that year,” explains Monica, “and a friend had just started working here. She said that I ought to come and help, because I don’t want to be doing nothing. So I did! It always keeps me interested and gives me something to get up for. I like meeting people in the shop, and I know a lot of people from my time working with the council.”

Of all of the aspects of volunteering at the shop, it was the donations of jewellery that particularly interested Monica. Under her own steam at her own expense, she put herself through some courses to learn more about it. She takes the jewellery that is donated, will clean it, and value it based on her new found knowledge.

Of all the developments in her 25 years of service, the change to a computerised till system is one of the most memorable! “I nearly finished when that came along,”, recalls Monica. “I thought I would never get the hang of it. But I told myself I would master it, and I did. Of course, now you don’t give it a second thought.”

Monica is proud to continue volunteering for Weldmar. “I’ve made several visits to the hospice and because I know what the money goes towards, and how people are helped because of the shop, it makes me thing I must continue whilst I can.”