Latest news with #StChristophersHospice
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
'Dancing queen' wants donations for 100th birthday
For her 100th birthday, a woman in south-east London wants donations to a hospice instead of gifts - and plans to dance to ABBA at her birthday party. Gwynneth Pedler, from Dulwich said she "set a target of getting to a hundred" and has learned a routine for her chosen song, Dancing Queen. In the run up to her special day, she has received physiotherapy at St Christopher's Hospice in Sydenham and credits them with getting back the use of her left leg after an accident. Born on 23 July 1925, Ms Pedler, a former head teacher of three schools and an air mechanic in the WRNS, once "accidentally" invited a whole class of students in Poland to come and stay with her in England. She also admits to being "a rather unruly child" as an evacuee during World War Two. Oldest person in the UK: How has life changed? The times and life of the world's oldest man When the physiotherapists asked if she had a goal, she told them she wanted to do a routine to ABBA's Dancing Queen at her birthday party, attended by more than 100 people, to celebrate her centenary. She said, "I thought it was ambitious but they said no - it wasn't." So they have choreographed steps and wiggles with sweeping arm movements, which has also helped build strength and balance. She said: "They do such wonderful work - not only with physiotherapy and art therapy - but all the other things that they do, in all sorts of other areas. The drivers are so calm, so helpful - it's a really lovely atmosphere." As a child, she was evacuated from London to the countryside during WWII, where she recalls a very long walk to school, something she wasn't keen on. "So we didn't go! We went out to where the farmer was thrashing the corn and he let us have a stick - to hit the rats as they ran out," she chuckles. It was her time in the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS) that taught her discipline, she says. And there followed a career in education - one of the things she attributes to having had such a long life. "Keep yourself surrounded by people younger than you and get to know them and socialise with them - because you'll then learn how to be young," she advises. 'I'll get you to England' After her retirement, Ms Pedler taught English in Poland - and once inadvertently invited her students to stay with her in England. All 27 of them. "One of them said, 'We've never been to England'. And I said, 'Oh, don't worry, I'll get you to England'," she recalls. They took that literally and went home to tell their mothers. Word got to the head and rather than cause disappointment, Ms Pedler made it happen. "I hadn't got room for them - my bungalow was big but it certainly wouldn't fit 27 students. So I borrowed tents from the Scouts, tables to put food on and raised some money." With an infectious can-do attitude, she talked her neighbours into bringing dinners for the children - for the next fortnight. "Everybody helped out, all sorts of people. I was just the figurehead really," she says modestly. Several of her Polish students went on to become teachers themselves and some are coming to her birthday party. Raising money and awareness for St Christopher's Hospice, is the latest mission in this determined woman's remarkable life. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Related internet links St Christopher's Hospice
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
'Dancing queen' wants donations for 100th birthday
For her 100th birthday, a woman in south-east London wants donations to a hospice instead of gifts - and plans to dance to ABBA at her birthday party. Gwynneth Pedler, from Dulwich said she "set a target of getting to a hundred" and has learned a routine for her chosen song, Dancing Queen. In the run up to her special day, she has received physiotherapy at St Christopher's Hospice in Sydenham and credits them with getting back the use of her left leg after an accident. Born on 23 July 1925, Ms Pedler, a former head teacher of three schools and an air mechanic in the WRNS, once "accidentally" invited a whole class of students in Poland to come and stay with her in England. She also admits to being "a rather unruly child" as an evacuee during World War Two. Oldest person in the UK: How has life changed? The times and life of the world's oldest man When the physiotherapists asked if she had a goal, she told them she wanted to do a routine to ABBA's Dancing Queen at her birthday party, attended by more than 100 people, to celebrate her centenary. She said, "I thought it was ambitious but they said no - it wasn't." So they have choreographed steps and wiggles with sweeping arm movements, which has also helped build strength and balance. She said: "They do such wonderful work - not only with physiotherapy and art therapy - but all the other things that they do, in all sorts of other areas. The drivers are so calm, so helpful - it's a really lovely atmosphere." As a child, she was evacuated from London to the countryside during WWII, where she recalls a very long walk to school, something she wasn't keen on. "So we didn't go! We went out to where the farmer was thrashing the corn and he let us have a stick - to hit the rats as they ran out," she chuckles. It was her time in the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS) that taught her discipline, she says. And there followed a career in education - one of the things she attributes to having had such a long life. "Keep yourself surrounded by people younger than you and get to know them and socialise with them - because you'll then learn how to be young," she advises. 'I'll get you to England' After her retirement, Ms Pedler taught English in Poland - and once inadvertently invited her students to stay with her in England. All 27 of them. "One of them said, 'We've never been to England'. And I said, 'Oh, don't worry, I'll get you to England'," she recalls. They took that literally and went home to tell their mothers. Word got to the head and rather than cause disappointment, Ms Pedler made it happen. "I hadn't got room for them - my bungalow was big but it certainly wouldn't fit 27 students. So I borrowed tents from the Scouts, tables to put food on and raised some money." With an infectious can-do attitude, she talked her neighbours into bringing dinners for the children - for the next fortnight. "Everybody helped out, all sorts of people. I was just the figurehead really," she says modestly. Several of her Polish students went on to become teachers themselves and some are coming to her birthday party. Raising money and awareness for St Christopher's Hospice, is the latest mission in this determined woman's remarkable life. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Related internet links St Christopher's Hospice
BBC News
7 days ago
- General
- BBC News
'Dancing queen' wants hospice donations for her 100th birthday
For her 100th birthday, a woman in south-east London wants donations to a hospice instead of gifts - and plans to dance to ABBA at her birthday Pedler, from Dulwich said she "set a target of getting to a hundred" and has learned a routine for her chosen song, Dancing the run up to her special day, she has received physiotherapy at St Christopher's Hospice in Sydenham and credits them with getting back the use of her left leg after an on 23 July 1925, Ms Pedler, a former head teacher of three schools and an air mechanic in the WRNS, once "accidentally" invited a whole class of students in Poland to come and stay with her in England. She also admits to being "a rather unruly child" as an evacuee during World War Two. When the physiotherapists asked if she had a goal, she told them she wanted to do a routine to ABBA's Dancing Queen at her birthday party, attended by more than 100 people, to celebrate her said, "I thought it was ambitious but they said no - it wasn't."So they have choreographed steps and wiggles with sweeping arm movements, which has also helped build strength and said: "They do such wonderful work - not only with physiotherapy and art therapy - but all the other things that they do, in all sorts of other areas. The drivers are so calm, so helpful - it's a really lovely atmosphere." As a child, she was evacuated from London to the countryside during WWII, where she recalls a very long walk to school, something she wasn't keen on."So we didn't go! We went out to where the farmer was thrashing the corn and he let us have a stick - to hit the rats as they ran out," she was her time in the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS) that taught her discipline, she says. And there followed a career in education - one of the things she attributes to having had such a long life."Keep yourself surrounded by people younger than you and get to know them and socialise with them - because you'll then learn how to be young," she advises. 'I'll get you to England' After her retirement, Ms Pedler taught English in Poland - and once inadvertently invited her students to stay with her in England. All 27 of them."One of them said, 'We've never been to England'. And I said, 'Oh, don't worry, I'll get you to England'," she took that literally and went home to tell their mothers. Word got to the head and rather than cause disappointment, Ms Pedler made it happen."I hadn't got room for them - my bungalow was big but it certainly wouldn't fit 27 students. So I borrowed tents from the Scouts, tables to put food on and raised some money."With an infectious can-do attitude, she talked her neighbours into bringing dinners for the children - for the next fortnight."Everybody helped out, all sorts of people. I was just the figurehead really," she says of her Polish students went on to become teachers themselves and some are coming to her birthday money and awareness for St Christopher's Hospice, is the latest mission in this determined woman's remarkable life.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Orpington mum dies after 'perimenopause' symptoms was actually bowel cancer
A mum said knowing she was going to die from bowel cancer allowed her to "live more fully" - and her last few weeks contained "some of the happiest days" of her life. Laura Dawson, 44, suffered with bloating and fatigue for several months before being told she had stage three cancer in March last year. Initially, she thought her symptoms were linked to perimenopause - but one night had to be rushed to A&E because her stomach pain suddenly became so bad she "could not move". The mum-of-two underwent emergency surgery to remove an obstruction on her bowel, and while the operation itself was successful, a biopsy revealed her cancer diagnosis. Laura was supported by St Christopher's Hospice in Sydenham, south east London. (Image: SWNS) Laura underwent six months of chemotherapy, and initially the scans were "promising", according to her husband Ben, 49. He said: "We got one clear scan in August and it all seemed promising. But then in September we got the news that it was back and it had spread. "That was absolutely gut wrenching." Initially, Laura trialled some other forms of chemotherapy - but two months ago she decided to discontinue treatment. The treatment was only making her more ill - and she instead wanted to spend what time she had left with her family and friends. Laura was supported by St Christopher's Hospice in Sydenham, who allowed her to live at home for as long as she could - meaning she could enjoy her family's company in a "comfortable and dignified way". Laura died at St Christopher's Hospice on Sunday, June 29 (Image: SWNS) After two weeks, she was transferred to in-hospice care. She died at St Christopher's Hospice on Sunday, June 29. Ben said her death was "peaceful" - and he was with her at the end. He continued: "The care Laura received at home from the carers from St Christopher's allowed her to have her final two weeks at home in a comfortable and dignified way. "Then, during the nearly three weeks she stayed at the hospice, she was so well looked after - and everyone there was so compassionate and so caring - that it made Laura's last few days so good for her. "We're eternally grateful that such a positive experience could come from such a negative situation." Laura said some of her final days had been some of her happiest. (Image: SWNS) Speaking previously about her experience of knowing she was dying, Laura said some of her final days had been some of her "happiest". She said: "Some of the happiest days of my life have been in the last few weeks. "As a society, we shy away from the process of dying. "By doing that, we reinforce negative ideas around death. People think death is always going to be painful and traumatic, but it doesn't have to be. "Deep down we all know we are going to die. Cancer has forced me to acknowledge it. "Since then I've lived more fully than I've ever done, and that has been a gift." Ben explained that he and Laura viewed the time they had together as a blessing - even if they both wished they had longer. Laura and Ben have two sons, Jacob, 17, and Theo, 15. (Image: SWNS) He said: "Laura could have died on that operating table back in March. Life can be cut short unexpectedly and suddenly. "But knowing Laura was going to die meant everyone had the opportunity to say what they wanted to say to her. "When it comes to the funeral, I won't have to stand up there and say all those things I wished I had said to her. "Because I told her, and so did the kids. "Obviously, I'd prefer to keep her - and have her for the rest of my life. Ben said that they will miss Laura "endlessly" (Image: SWNS) "But she died knowing she is loved and that we will miss her endlessly. "That is a blessing." Ben said that throughout the process, he and Laura were always honest with their sons Jacob, 17, and Theo, 15. Ben said: "We've spoken very openly about it all the way through. "We've always told them what the possible outcomes are - because we want to prepare them for what might happen and we want them to be able to trust what we're saying. "That's definitely helped us throughout." He also said the care she received - from the NHS and St Christopher's - had made the experience a lot easier. "From the moment she was admitted into Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital, all the care Laura received was incredible," Ben said. "We really are so thankful." Ben said that Laura wanted to share her story to help others. (Image: SWNS) Ben said that Laura wanted to share her story to help other people deal with dying and death. He said: "The way she's approached this has been incredible. I don't think there's been a day in this process where Laura truly let this get to her. "This is unfair. She's had her life cut short by 40 or 50 years. But she's seeing the beauty in the small things - taking joy in what she can do. "They say people are glass half empty or glass half full. Laura was always happy enough just to have a glass. "She wants to share that with people." Laura also used what time she had left to create memories for her loved ones. She wrote letters, organised mementoes, and bought both of her sons sentimental watches. "She bought me one when we got engaged and now the boys have one too," Ben said. "That way, on special occasions, like their weddings, they can look at it and know she's with them and thought about that day." Recommended Reading London woman grateful she's sober after incurable brain tumour London man discovered 5 tumours after craving olives Girl becomes fastest 8 year-old to run a 5k in the world Speaking about Laura, Ben continued: "We met 24 years ago. They talk about love at first sight - and it was that. "She's been my constant companion ever since. "Laura is generous to a fault - and the kind of person who is friends with someone after a minute of chatting to them. "She's just a really, really nice person."
