Hospice’s Pearly Queen Shirley Miles dies
Nelson’s Pearly Queen, Shirley Miles, has died in the hospice she dedicated her later life to.
The 82-year-old died peacefully on Saturday from non-Hodgkin Lymphoma at the Nelson Tasman Hospice, the organisation she raised more than $160,000 for over the last 15 years.
She had volunteered more than 2000 hours of her time, mostly in her distinctive pearly suit with a collection bucket at the Nelson Market.
In January she presented the hospice with her last donation after making her final appearance at the market in December.
Last year, Miles was told she had inoperable colon cancer. She chose not to have treatment and was told she had months to live. ‘‘Not good news, but I’ve done my dash and had a good innings,’’ Miles said in December.
She was in hospice care for just under a week before her death.
Nelson Tasman Hospice trust chairman John Peters said yesterday the hospice community were saddened by Miles death. But he said it was ‘‘lovely that we were able to be supportive of her at the end, because she was so supportive of us for so many years.
‘‘She really personified hospice; people that give so much of themselves.’’
Peters said Miles had been a wonderful advocate and ambassador.
‘‘She will be very sorely missed as a character at the market and as such a strong supporter of hospice.’’
Reflecting on her marathon fundraising efforts in January, Miles said she ‘‘must have said a million ‘hellos’,’’ at the market, but had never rattled her bucket for donations.
Her late husband John supported her, driving her to and from the market, and to speaking engagements, racking up a distance equivalent to three times the length of New Zealand.
Miles first began collecting at the market at Christmas in 2002, wearing the pearly suit that weighs three kilograms and represents her London heritage. It is decorated with mother-of-pearl buttons.
She made the costume after learning more about the Pearly culture of fundraising for charity and then approached former hospice chairwoman, the late Elspeth Kennedy.
In that first year she collected $6189 and seven years later she had reached $50,000. Her initial goal of reaching $100,000 was a ‘‘pie in the sky thing’’ when she began but in 2012 she decided to aim for $150,000.
In the 2017 New Year’s honours she was recognised with a Queens Service Medal for her services to charity fundraising.
At her last appearance at the market, Miles was showered with hugs, kisses and thank yous.
A doll dressed in pearly finery and a stained glass window designed by Miles will feature in the new $11.5 million hospice building in Stoke in her honour.
Peters said the window would feature a white rose, a symbol of the Pearly Queen movement.
A funeral will be held for Shelley at 11am on Friday at Marsden House.