Piece of a cancer charity’s history unearthed in attic
A PIECE of history which captured the essence of a cancer charity that has helped millions has been found in an attic.
Bolton Hospice worker, John Hall, discovered a speech given by his grandfather, Dudley Chalk OBE, in 1963.
Mr Chalk was the treasurer of Macmillan Cancer Support, at the time known as The National Society for Cancer Relief and was a government civil servant.
The speech was given on behalf of Douglas Macmillan, the charity’s founder at the Mansion House in London, as Mr Macmillan was unable to attend.
It was found in Mr Chalk’s attic by his grandson, who is a spiritual care and bereavement officer at the hospice.
“My grandfather died in 1976, he fought in the First World War and he was awarded the OBE for his services to cancer. I had no idea that he knew Douglas Macmillan and of how involved he was.
“It was a fantastic surprise to find his speech and wonderful to discover that my family’s continued involvement in working alongside Macmillan and supporting many with cancer continues.”
Mr Chalk’s speech goes to the heart of what the charity exists for.
One section says: “Whom, then, do they (The National Society for Cancer Relief) help exactly, and in what ways?
“The short answer is – anyone with cancer, or suffering from the effects of cancer, who is in real financial stress; and in any way necessary to relive that stress.
“And it is a thought-provoking fact that even in our prosperous ‘Welfare State’ four out of five applicants for help are already in receipt of National Assistance.
“They have no use or need for red tape; they have no bar of colour, race, creed, politics status or anything else. Need is the sole criterion; and it is only very rarely, and for good reasons, that we feel compelled to turn an application down.”
Bolton Hospice works in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support, to deliver a Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Service on site at the hospice, at Bolton One and at Royal Bolton Hospital.
Sue Summerfield, Macmillan Cancer information and support service manager in Bolton, said: “What a fantastic find and a great piece of Macmillan history. It’s an amazing speech, which was beautifully written by Dudley Chalk, and his moving words are just as relevant now as they were back in 1963 and highlight what Macmillan still stands for today – that life with cancer is still life and Macmillan is here to help people live it.”