RHODA AND DAUGHTER ROSEMARY CELEBRATE THEIR RIGHT ROYAL SUPPORT FOR ST LUKE’S – At 102, retired nurse Rhoda Till is living proof that age is no barrier when it comes to volunteering for St Luke’s.
Giving back to her community is still hugely important for the former night ward sister, mother of three and great, great, grandmother who was inspired to join our charity shop team around 30 years ago when she saw how much her daughter, Rosemary, loved her weekly volunteering sessions.
“I didn’t think I would still be volunteering at 102 but I thoroughly enjoy every minute of it. It makes me feel useful and lets me enjoy a little bit of social life,” said Rhoda, who had the privilege of being introduced to the King when he paid a visit to St Luke’s in the 1990s. Then a couple of years’ ago he sent her a card for her 100th birthday.
“When the King came down, I went to the hospice at Turnchapel with Rosemary. All our names were put into a hat, and I was the lucky one chosen to meet King Charles. We were told not to drink our tea before he had his first sip!”
These days, with limited mobility and her eyesight failing, Rhoda can’t often get down to the furniture shop at Plympton, where Rosemary volunteers once a week. But you will find her at home nearby, sorting and folding hundreds of plastic carrier bags people use to bring in their donations.
“The people at the furniture warehouse in Plympton do a great job,” said Rhoda who has volunteered for St Luke’s, on and off, for three decades, returning last year after a break. “It’s so good that the things people bring in get a new life.
“Rosemary brings the bags up to me and I sort them out. It means we’re re-using plastic, and we can charge people 50p for them in the shop and bring in some income for St Luke’s. In the old days we never would go out without our own shopping bag but there’s so much waste these days.”
Rhoda recalls her magical childhood growing up with her parents and siblings on the family farm at Modbury, and how she couldn’t wait to be 18 so she could start training to be a nurse. It was all she’d ever wanted to do.
“St Luke’s is a wonderful, wonderful thing. As a nurse I know how good the care is,” said Rhoda. She moved to Plympton after her husband died and she now lives in a retirement apartment with a manager on call, social activities to join in and a visit from Rosemary every morning.
A former teacher, Rosemary, 74, recently received a special St Luke’s recognition badge for completing 30 years’ service.
“I’ve worked in lots of different St Luke’s shops, mostly at the Ridgeway but I also helped start off the Drake and Barbican shops. I was known for a long time as the ‘bag lady of Plympton’, going round collecting donations from people,” she revealed.
“I started volunteering because I wanted to do something to help. Now that I’m retired it gets me out of the house, and I love the company and the camaraderie. I get my fix for the week going down. I’ll usually be steaming the clothes. It’s something I can do without having to think too much. I can just get on with it and forget about everything else going on in my life for a bit.
“I’ve met so many interesting people while I was volunteering and when Mum heard the tales I had to tell she thought she would like to do it too, so that’s how she got started.”
Despite the surname Till, mother and daughter say they have both tried to keep away from the shop checkout, preferring behind the scenes roles!
Rosemary is also a loyal charity shop customer. There’s a standing family joke that whenever Rhoda asks where Rosemary bought something new, she’ll reply “guess where”.
“It’s true. Our house is fully furnished from St Luke’s,” laughed Rosemary. “I’m always watching out for things coming in, not just for me but for people I know.”
They say they are fortunate that none of their family or close friends have needed hospice care to date, but they fully appreciate and value the compassionate services St Luke’s offer local people.
Meanwhile, Rosemary is aiming to be volunteering for St Luke’s when she’s 102: “I’m hoping it’s in the genes!”
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