Tony adds: “I was standing on my corner and we were just dripping through to our underpants! It was a shocker! It was wet, but everybody still laughed and enjoyed it.”

Soon after they took part in Pier to Pier from Clacton to Walton and back, which was also memorable for Deryn: “I had breast cancer and I hadn’t long been out of hospital and we did the Pier to Pier and I phoned into BBC Essex and they put it on there. People just turned up with cheques and we had buckets. My neighbours and friends all came along with us so we got quite a lot of money. It was tiring because I hadn’t long been out of hospital.”

The couple have continued to take part in St Helena events, although have given them a break recently as Tony has been unwell with cancer which has spread to his hip, back and knee. Now Tony and Deryn are experiencing first hand where their volunteering and fundraising goes, as Tony is staying at the Hospice to help control his pain. Tony says:

“It’s totally different to what I thought it was and I think it’s probably the same with people’s idea of what a hospice is. I just thought people came here to die and I’ve found out that it’s not. They’re here to help people and they’re very clever. There are lots of doctors, modern machinery. The nurses are terrific, smiling all the time, whether they’re looking at your face or other parts of you, they’re smiling all the time!

“They are very, very good. That’s what it’s like here, it’s lovely. The people are nice. I’m sitting here waiting now, they’re going to bring my dinner to me soon. I’m having a steak and ale and mushroom pie with mash and vegetables and sticky toffee pudding for afters, so that’s not too bad!

“They’re lovely people. Nothing is too much trouble, they’ll do anything that you ask, or don’t ask. They’re brilliant the people who come here to volunteer; from the people who do the gardens, they keep them absolutely brilliant, to the people who are inside helping.

“It certainly feels I am in good hands. The doctors that come round, you have belief in them and they’re very good and explain everything that’s going on to you.”

Deryn adds: “Nothing’s too much trouble. They’ve got everything covered. We’re very lucky to have something like this.”

Tony agrees: “Yes, we are. More people should try and help the overall lot of it because it needs people, needs the volunteers.

"I can’t stay in here too long; we’ve got to go out and get those pots in. We do what we can do and it’s a pleasure to have something back from volunteering as well. They give us more than what we give them, we feel. They’re brilliant.”

Update:

Tony died at the Hospice a few months after he shared his story. Deryn continues to volunteer and also gifts her time on reception and in the Hospice garden, which Tony loved to look out on. Deryn said:

This story may not be published elsewhere without express permission from St Helena Hospice.