Celebrating Volunteers at Weldmar: How Jim’s life in hospitality gave him perfect skills for our hospice reception desk

Jim Davie is a people person.

This is a quality that makes him an excellent volunteer for the reception desk at Weldmar’s Inpatient Unit in Dorchester, a role he has fulfilled every week for the past five years.

Originally from Glasgow, Jim moved to Dorchester in 1995, and ran a tea room for thirteen years, and then became part of the team at the well renowned Yalbury Cottage in Lower Bockhampton, until the Covid pandemic hit in 2020. Jim became one of the very few new volunteers to be recruited by Weldmar that summer.

“Once I started working part time, I thought that I would like to do some voluntary work. Being on reception suits me, because I’ve always been in hospitality. I enjoy the interaction with the public, and welcoming visitors into the hospice. You just feel that you’re doing something very worthwhile.

“In the past, I had visited a couple of friends who were inpatients here. As a visitor, I was struck by what a nice place it was. I had a really positive vibe about it, so I thought it would be a good place to volunteer. After doing some afternoons, I’ve got a regular Tuesday slot which I really enjoy.”

Jim, pictured above at the annual Volunteer Celebration event in the hospice meadow, has just discovered he’s been nominated for a ‘Room To Reward’ treat. This initiative sees deserving charity volunteers nominated to receive a stay in a hotel, in rooms that haven’t been booked.

I feel very privileged to have been nominated for that,” says Jim, “and I don’t even know who nominated me. I’m still relatively new compared to some of the others! I’m very honoured.

Jim says he feels valued and well supported as a Weldmar volunteer. “I’m well supported by both Emma and Nicky, who work on reception. I enjoy the company of the other reception volunteers too, and we all meet for lunch every couple of months. It’s a pleasure to come here, and I always look forward to my Tuesday mornings. It gives me some purpose, because I’m not ready to stop working! I get a lot of enjoyment from doing my duties.”