Latest news with #SobellHouseHospice
Wales Online
19-05-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
'I prepare last meals at a hospice, people often want the same thing'
'I prepare last meals at a hospice, people often want the same thing' Spencer tries to prepare whatever people want for their final meals, and the request is often the same Spencer Richards is the chef at Sobell House Hospice A chef who prepares the final meals for people at the end of their lives has explained what they choose. Spencer Richards is the chef at Sobell House Hospice in Oxfordshire, and makes sure last meals are filled with comfort, care and love. Spencer said: 'My own philosophy is that there can be no greater privilege as a chef than serving someone their final meal. Recently a 21-year-old patient didn't connect with anything on the standard menu. He was young and didn't like the usual options, so we talked and he liked street food, so we made that happen. 'Then there was the woman who turned 93 during her stay. She hadn't had the most traditional home life, and birthday cakes were never really part of it. When we surprised her with one, she was in tears. She was absolutely over the moon.' Birthday cakes are a frequent request for Spencer, often for patients in their 80s or 90s. 'They're small things, but especially for people who've been isolated or are feeling lonely, they mean a lot,' Spencer said. "Food at the end of life is as much about adapting as it is about cooking. Patients often lose the ability to swallow or taste buds change due to medicines and treatment such as chemotherapy. Spencer has prepared street food for a 21-year-old and birthday cake for people in their 90s Article continues below 'Many in the hospice become sensitive to salt, so we moderate that. And we find that often people with cancer get a sweet tooth.' Spencer draws on classic French desserts like panna cotta, crème brûlée, and crème caramel. Even when people can only tolerate jelly or ice cream, Spencer ensures the dish is thoughtfully presented. 'We don't always know at the time what it means,' he says. 'But we hear back later - families come back months afterward, just to say thank you.' Article continues below One family who has lost a loved on earlier in the year returned on Christmas Day with food for the hospice staff as a gesture of gratitude. It's those moments that remind Spencer what this work is really about. 'At this stage in my career, I want to give back,' he says. 'Food is a powerfully emotive medium - it can summon childhood memories and create new lasting ones. That's what we do here.' Sobell House is jointly funded by the NHS and the Sobell House Hospice Charity, which raises around £4 million annually.
BBC News
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
'Terrible' artwork to feature in Oxford hospice art campaign
An artist who has become famous for his "terrible paintings" will be featured in a charity art campaign raising money to train end-of-life Lee Matthias, who went viral after presenting an artwork to his wife on their wedding day, has painted a portrait of BBC Radio Oxford presenter Sophie Law that will be featured in Sobell House Hospice's exhibition My Lovely project received submissions from more than 600 artists, including exhibition of the mini masterpieces will take place this weekend at The Cloister Gallery at St John the Evangelist Church in Oxford. Presenter Law received her portrait via the charity's fundraising director Beth Marsh, while Mr Matthias joined the show on the said he had "caught her best side"."You've caught the very witchy-looking hair I get this time of the morning when you get up," she picture was modelled on a photo she had taken with Tony, an ox created for BBC Radio Oxford by Oxfordshire-based yarn-bomber artwork was sold for £2,800 at auction for the hospice in September."I've never seen a portrait of myself quite like that before," Law Matthias said he received multiple orders for his art from "all over the world" since going viral."They send such lovely messages about the joy and the laughter that it brings," he said."We advertise it as 'terrible', I know my ability in art and it's not very good." The project is in aid of Beth's Bursary Fund, which supports palliative care nurses with training and was set up by the family of Beth Foreman, who died aged 32 in 2016 and was cared for by Sobell House project has featured original pieces by celebrities including Dame Judy Dench, Mel Giedroyc and Mark postcards will be available through Sobell House's online auction between 1-25 May. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
BBC News
28-01-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Alice in Wonderland inspired ox art sculpture finds permanent home in Oxford
An unveiling ceremony has taken place to welcome an ox sculpture to its permanent home on the roof terrace of the Westgate in Looking for Alice sculpture was part of the OxTrail art installation around Oxford in July and August with 31 large and 100 mini painted oxen sculptures were auctioned over the summer and raised £150,000 for Sobell House Hospice which provides end of life care and support to adult patients and their loved Foster, CEO of Sobell House Hospice Charity said: "Having the ox here, is actually a really proud moment." The ox has been painted with images from the Lewis Carroll book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland which was written by the Oxford don in the 19th unveiling was attended by Amelia Foster CEO of Sobell House Hospice Charity, Mark Davies from the Lewis Carroll Society Trustee and the Lord Mayor of Oxford, Mike Rowley. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
