Tribute to hospice founder

STAFF at East Cheshire Hospice have paid tribute to one of their founding volunteers who has died aged 91.

Mrs Barbara Camm from Mottram St Andrew, known as Edmee, helped to raise the first £250,000 needed to build the hospice on the Millbank Drive site in the 1980s.

A trustee of the hospice for six years, she was also a vice president, helping to establish local hospice support groups, and was involved in many fundraising activities over the years. These included organising social events such as fashion shows, hog roasts and coffee mornings.

In addition, Edmee was involved in the launch of the Macclesfield Hospice Shop on Chestergate and was one of the original team of collectors who helped set up the Hospice Lottery.

An avid maker of jams and marmalades well into her eighties, she also sold ‘countless’ jars of her popular preserves in aid of the facility.

Helen Knight, clinical and operations director, said: “We are indebted to Edmee for her many fundraising efforts over the years. She was dedicated to the hospice and we are still benefiting from the hard work she did. She has helped thousands of patients and their families to have a much better end of life experience.

“Her family and friends are in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time.”

Edmee’s funeral took place on December 14 at Mottram St Andrew Methodist Church.