Volunteer award for hospice work

A Shropshire volunteer has been rewarded for 22 years of service at a hospice charity by winning a global accolade.

Gerard Paris, 82, of Albrighton near Shifnal, has helped out at with the Wolverhampton-based Compton Hospice since 1989.

And his efforts have now been recognised by health bosses around the world as he was awarded the Volunteer of the Year accolade by the International Journal of Palliative Nursing.

A former finance director at Tarmac, Mr Paris became a trustee at the hospice after retiring and was appointed as a finance director. Just two years later, he took on the role of director at the hospice's trading company, which is responsible for the running of 20 charity shops across the Midlands.

"I was very flattered to even be nominated for this award, and certainly never expected to receive anything," said the grandfather of five.

"It was amazing. There were people from America and Australia up for awards and in my category there was someone from Africa.

"I was also thrilled to accept it on behalf of the 800-plus volunteers who all deserve an equal share of this award."

Mr Paris, whose wife Zoe was cared for by the hospice until her death last year, aged 80, was also instrumental in setting up Compton Hospice Promotions Ltd, which operates the organisation's weekly lottery.