Memories of Kay will forever bloom
Rare rose planted at hospice to honour Guider
30.11.2017 A former Girl Guide is being remembered with a special rose was planted in her memory.
Kay Garrick, 75, has been honoured with the rare flower planted in the grounds of St Vincent’s Hospice.
She had been a committed supporter of the centre after it helped looked after her husband at the end of his life.
Kilbarchan Trefoil Guild helps members of the Guiding movement keep in touch and donated the plant for the garden.
Daughter Lesley, 50, insists the gift is a fitting tribute to a lady, who did so much to help others.
She said: “My mum had been a very active member of the Kilbarchan Trefoil Guild for many years and served on the committee in plenty of different roles.
“She always took each challenge on with amazing enthusiasm.
“The guild in Scotland are about to celebrate their 75th anniversary and they had the idea of gifting the celebration rose to our family in memory of mum.
“They remember her as a keen gardener, who had turned 75 just before she died.
“They felt that the Trefoil rose was a fitting tribute to her memory and asked us to plant it wherever we thought best.
“After all the support that St Vincent’s Hospice offered mum during the toughest time of her life, we thought it was only appropriate that the rose should be donated to hospice.
“It will be planted in their garden, where all her friends and family can go and see it.”
Kay, of Johnstone, passed away after a short illness earlier this year. She became a hospice patron after husband Peter, 73, was treated there shortly before his death.
The Trefoil rose was bred and named after the guild to celebrate its birthday.
It received a fifth of every sale, with cash spent on good causes.
Katrina Vine, St Vincent’s Hospice Trust fundraiser and community garden project leader, says the donation will be enjoyed by countless families at the Howwood centre.
She said: “This is an absolutely heartwarming story and we are truly touched that Kay’s daughters have decided to make our garden the home for this rose.
“It clearly means so much to so many people.
“Our team work extremely hard to offer the right support, at the right time for as many people as possible, and gestures like this, which show the impact they have had on lives, is incredibly rewarding.
“The rose has now taken centre stage in our garden and we want to encourage as many people as possible to come and see it.”
St Vincent’s Hospice provides specialist palliative care for families affected by life-limiting illnesses across Renfrewshire.