17. Dr Geoffrey Guy

Dr Geoffrey Guy joined the charity, which was known at the time as ‘Joseph Weld, Trimar Hospice and CancerCare Dorset’ as Chairman in 2006. At the time he was Chairman and founder of GW Pharmaceuticals, busy travelling around the world and expanding the company. His wife Kate came across an advert for the role of Chairman in the Blackmore Vale Magazine. Geoffrey says “Having worked in research in the private sector, and not having worked in charitable sector, I thought it would have been a quite an interesting challenge.”

Geoffrey encouraged his fellow trustees to immerse themselves in the day-to-day activities of the hospice “observing and taking it on board but without interfering.” This included making visits within the community as well as at the hospice. “We also visited every single shop so it was fascinating getting to meet the professional management in the shops and also the volunteers.”

During Geoffrey’s tenure there were discussions to change the charity’s name, and he suggested Weldmar Hospice Trust. Feedback from staff was that they wanted it to be Hospicecare. “It helped to make that distinction between the view that most people in the street have about hospice as a building. In fact, hospice is hospice care, the building is where it goes on and it also goes on of course, in people’s own homes and in the community.” Geoffrey also sketched out the initial design for the new logo and his nephew, a graphic designer, then created the branding.

Geoffrey reflects on his time at the charity, and says “I really enjoyed the role and the job as Chairman. We had a superb board, a really, really good management team, and we maintained the hospices finances in a reasonable level and we were able to expand the offerings and expand the operational activities.”

Geoffrey and Kate are still engaged with Weldmar, holding fundraising events at their Chedington Estate, and keeping up to date with what is going on at the charity.