Our Latest News

Five year old’s paintings take community by storm



St John’s Wood residents have been clamouring to get hold of the work of an exciting up-and-coming artist, five year-old James Rowbotham, pictured below with Community Fundraising Manager, Emma Carlisle. The youngster, of Ordnance Mews, attracted a sizeable following with several buyers attending a sale of his watercolour and oil paintings on a Saturday in late May. A pupil at Arnold House in St John’s Wood, James was given permission to set up a stall to sell his work outside St John’s Wood Barbers in St Ann’s Terrace.

After selling 12 out of 14 of his tasteful landscapes and gaining a private commission, James managed to raise over £150, which he has generously donated to the Hospice.

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 Bruce’s Fundraising Adventure

Loyal supporter of the hospice Bruce Beach recently completed an epic 8 day adventure with his two sons, kayaking down the River Thames from source to sea. The family set sail from Lechlade-on-Thames in the Cotswolds in a three man canoe on Friday July 3rd and travelled the 187 miles to Southend-on-Sea on the Essex coast.

Bruce is a patient of the hospice, and is sadly terminally ill, suffering from a rare form of hormonal cancer the trip provided him with an opportunity to share some quality time with his son’s. Bruce kept a video diary throughout the trip to leave his family with a permanent memory of the adventure. The Beach family were also able to generate much needed funds for the hospice by asking friends and family to sponsor them. In addition the event generated some great publicity with a feature in the national newspaper the Daily Mirror and regionalised news programme London Tonight.

If you would like to contribute towards Bruce’s fundraising efforts call the Fundraising office today on 020 7808 4011 and your contribution will be added to Bruce’s growth total.

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10 years of service marked by the Order of Malta



Every year on 24th June, the Order of Malta invite long serving members of staff and volunteers from St John’s Hospice and the Hospital of St John & St Elizabeth to join them in a Mass at the magnificent Brompton Oratory, where they are awarded medals in recognition of their service and commitment to the organisation.

The Mass, which is followed by a lunch in the garden of the Oratory priests’ house next door to the church, gave the perfect opportunity for the Knights of Malta, together with the Hospice and Hospital to show staff and volunteers their thanks and appreciation for all their
hard work and support.

This year we celebrated as eight volunteers and staff members, who have served 10 or more years each, were awarded Bronze medals. Together, they have dedicated a magnificent 85 years of support and care to St John’s Hospice and our patients.

The Order of Malta is one of the oldest Catholic Religious Orders, founded in Jerusalem in 1048. Their mission is to defend the faith and assist the suffering, by working in the field of medical and social care and humanitarian aid. We are proud to have a long standing relationship with the British Association of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, who are generous supporters of St John’s Hospice.

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Celebratory Mass

29th May 2009 officially marked the 25th Anniversary
of St. John’s Hospice.



To celebrate the Hospice’s remarkable journey, The Right Reverent Bishop Longley, Auxiliary Bishop ofWestminster, led a special Mass at The Conventual Church of Saint John of Jerusalem (at The Hospital of St John & St. Elizabeth). Following the Mass, a champagne reception was held in the Day Services Centre at St John’s Hospice. We were delighted that so many of our supporters, volunteers, staff and clients were able to join us and would like to thank everyone who attended.

Donations were also collected and very gratefully received. All funds raised will be used to help St John’s Hospice continue to give the high standard of care that it has been providing to countless patients and their families since it was formally opened in 1984.

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