Last night Marion and I were invited out to dinner at Tapping House, the Norfolk Hospice, and were right-royally entertained for the evening. The staff, all voluntary, run it as Day Centre, and specialise in various forms of massage. There were about sixty guests, (thirty disabled, thirty carers), and the staff were in black tie and equivalent. I was struck by the number of ex-service people there; I suppose it reflects on the love of community life engendered in the armed forces. Looking round the faces after the meal, in every face I saw the determination not to be beaten by their disability, including a grand dame of 82, caring for her husband. She looked about 60, and was a dancer at the Windmill in her youth. After dinner, all five courses of it, a group of young country lads sang, rather like the Wurzels. The evening was most enjoyable, and very humbling in a way. To a large extent it restored my faith in human nature.
If interested, look them up on Google.
Website The Norfolk Hospice Tapping House
Boadicea's Chariot 
My goodness Zen, what a wonderful evening you had. I have just had a look at the site, the ‘about us’ page is a beautiful read. With only 11% funding from the NHS, towards the 1 million it costs to run the hospice a year, it makes you realize how hard the volunteers and carers work to offer such wonderful care. You are right Zen, it is very humbling to see, and know of such places, and I can appreciate your comments regarding renewed faith in our human neighbours.
A lovely post Zen, thanks for sharing it with us, and also reminding us, that we people do care about our fellow man.
Zen I’ve added their webpage to your post, hope you approve.
🙂
Thanks, Soutie, they really do a fine job.
Very few hospices in the UK or the USA run on anything but huge volunteer staffs, both working in the hospice and fund raising.
The volunteers who actually work with the dying are a ludicrously eclectic bunch and fortunately motivated rarely by the ‘do gooding’ mentality. Most of them have often lost a loved one ‘too early’ or in maximally harrowing circumstances.
One of the few decent organisations that do not suffer government interference and all the better for that!
If you can’t help in actuality, which is not everyone’s cup of tea, at least you can contribute financially or help fund raise.
Charity begins at home!