'Rapturous applause' for Wexham Park nurses at Maiden's Head pub party

A group of nurses from Wexham Park were treated to a hearty Christmas party at The Maiden’s Head pub – a thanks for their hard work caring for the doorman’s brother in his final moments.

The festive knees-up was organised by Ian Mills, a well-known face at The Maiden’s Head pub as its doorman for more than a decade.

His brother Stephen developed a brain tumour which caused a stroke and led to a stint in hospital earlier this year.

Stephen’s condition worsened and he passed away one day before his 72nd birthday.

Amidst the sad news, Ian was left incredibly grateful for the care provided by Stephen’s nurses at Wexham Park – and developed a bond with them from all the time he spent in the stroke unit.

Deciding that their hard work was at times unacceptably thankless, Ian decided he would pull out the stops to thank them as best he could.

Running a fundraiser out of The Maiden’s Head, he rustled up over a thousand pounds from generous punters and was able to send the nurses off on a trip to the seaside earlier this year.

Ian also bought them a coffee machine and hundreds of coffee pods – something they really wanted – and decided that to round off, he would see if he could give them a Christmas do too.

The pub, whose management has been behind this all the way, duly stepped up.

On Saturday night, The Maiden’s Head put on a lavish buffet spread and drinks for the nurses within a sectioned off area for all those that could make it – about 15 of them.

Another 10 nurses went for a Christmas meal, also covered by donations.

That night a live band was in, the pub was heaving and the energy was high – a fitting setting for a much-deserved Christmas treat.

Nurses came from about 7.30pm and stayed well into the evening, with festivities rolling on until past midnight.

The Advertiser dropped in and met them, too, finding them in great spirits.

This was their only Christmas party this year and they told Ian how grateful they were, and that no one had ever done anything like this for them before – though Ian stressed that they are the ones ‘that deserve all the praise.’

“Everyone [at the pub] got to meet them, we got them up in front of everyone and introduced them, and they all got rapturous applause,” he said.

The party was partly a thank-you from Ian and The Maiden’s Head and partly another opportunity to remember Stephen.

“I miss my brother always, every day. We were close,” said Ian. “But this is what he would have liked – to give something back to the people that were looking after him.”

If anyone wants to continue to make donations to the nurses, Ian will spend them on more bits and pieces for their coffee maker, to keep them in good spirits while doing the challenging work they love.