NHS nurse’s suicide after work stress
Village boozer is crowned top dog for punters with pooches
STRESS Leona Goddard
AN NHS nurse who worked 12-hour shifts and struggled to have a life outside work killed herself, an inquest heard yesterday.
Leona Goddard, 35, wanted to settle down and have a family but struggled with unpredictable work hours and extra duties.
Colleagues rated her as “outstanding”, but the nursing manager who worked in a mental health unit at Prestwich Hospital, Gtr Manchester, developed low self-esteem.
Six months after a promotion, she was found hanged in her bedroom.
Recording a verdict of suicide, coroner Angharad Davies said: “Colleagues describe her as a bright, clever, caring nurse, but it is clear from the evidence that the job role was causing Leona stress.”
Landlady Jayne, Laura, Holly, Nikkii and Rhian
Photo stand is a popular draw
YOU don’t have to be barking to work behind the bar at the Fox and Hounds, but it helps.
With pooch-friendly sleep special hound beverages and a novelty photo-stand, the pub has been crowned the UK’s most dog-friendly.
It pipped 2,500 entries from across the country to win the title from dog-sitting website Rover.com.
And delighted landlady
Jayne Tilsley, whose dogs Nerys the Jack Russell and French bulldogs Debbie and Rodney charge around the pub, loves welcoming punters’ fourlegged friends.
She said: “We love meeting new dogs and getting to fuss them. People come tents, from all over. We had a lady fly from Boston to visit and one family bring their dog every year for his birthday – we have a party for him. He lives two hours away.
“Dogs are just as important as punters here, the staff are on first name terms with them.
“Sometimes we take bookings by the names of the dogs, not owners as we remember them better.”
The signs that this is doggy heaven are there even before you set foot in the pub, in Theale, just outside Reading, Berks.
Seven water bowls are lined up outside, as well as tennis balls and toys on the grass.
In the summer there is a ball pit as well as a paddling pool to help pooches
JAYNE TILSLEY LANDLADY
BEDDING DOWN One of the dog teepees
cool off after a long walk. Once inside treats on offer include doggy beer “Bottom Sniffer” and Jayne supplies cosy teepees for when they want a nap.
Owners can even take snaps of their beloved pets poking their snouts through the specially made photo stand featuring a hunting scene.
And each week staff choose their “Woofer of the Week” to star in the
Midlands winner) – Best for city walkies ■ The Maltings, Warrington (North West winner) – Best for doggy ice cream
■ The Ship Inn, Teignmouth, Devon
(SW winner) – Best for beach walkies
CUSTOMERS Rhian with dogs pub’s annual calendar, with the proceeds going to charity. Jayne says all this has helped keep the pub popular with punters. “It’s important these days to have a USP as a pub. We need to stand out,” she said.
“People absolutely love it. For us it’s about keeping alive that local thing.” But Jayne and co-manager Miles Teese have made sure there’s a dog-free zone in a bid to keep all customers happy. She admitted: “We know it’s not for everyone, but complaints are very rare. “We try to keep everyone happy but you can’t please everyone.” Simon Le Grice, from Rover.com, praised the pub saying: “The superb service demonstrated shows real consideration for dog welfare and happiness, which we at Rover value above all.”
One family bring their dog every year for his birthday
■ Wags N Tales, Surbiton (London winner) – Best for homemade dog treats
■ The Calder Vale Hotel, Wakefield (Yorks winner) – Best human & dog interaction
■ The Sun, Llangollen (Wales winner)
– Best for having dog maitre d’
■ The Stables, Glasgow (Scotland winner) – Best for doggy beer ■ Sunflower, Belfast (N. Ireland winner) – Best for dog charities