Hospice veteran to meet Queen again for 25th anniversary

When Adele Silvey, 69, volunteered to help at a new hospice opening in her town she never guessed she would soon be meeting the Queen.

The Queen opened Thames Hospicecare's Pine Lodge hospice in Hatch Lane, Windsor, 25 years ago in 1987.

Adele, who then lived at St Leonard's Hill, was already helping out at its day support unit.

The mum-of-two and grandmother met the Queen again when the hospice was extended and on Wednesday Her Majesty returns for its 25th birthday celebrations where Adele will meet her again.

The Windlesham resident moved with the hospice's day unit when it transferred to Ascot's Heatherwood Hospital a few years ago, but will return to the main Windsor building to meet the Queen for the third time.

Adele said of her previous audiences with the Queen: "She asked about my work and was very keen to know everything about the hospice.

"I'm not sure she will remember me but I have no doubt that she will remember everything about the hospice, and will be just as keen to know what we have planned for the next 25 years."

Adele welcomes patients at the day unit, answers the phone, makes tea and coffee and serves lunch.

She said: "Most importantly I chat to patients and listen to what they have to say about their week and how they feel. It's such a privilege to be a volunteer at the hospice, I've met some truly courageous and inspiring people."