A WOMAN who was supported by hospice bereavement specialists in York following the death of her husband now intends to train as a volunteer herself.

Lynne Bason, of Camblesforth, near Selby, lost her husband, Peter, to mesothelioma 18 months ago. The pair had been married for 42 years after meeting when they were both aged 16.

Lynne said: “Peter was in the hospice for 16 days and very well cared for. After he died, St Leonard’s continued to care for me. Because he died of mesothelioma, there had to be a post-mortem; the hospice rang the coroner and sorted it all out for me.”

It was then St Leonard’s asked if Mrs Bason would like to be put in contact with one of their bereavement volunteers.

She said: “I had one-to-one help from my bereavement volunteer, Lesley. It was extremely helpful; I could talk to her quite easily, and get off my chest a lot of things that you possibly couldn’t say to your close family. I’ve two daughters and four grandchildren, and they have helped so much, but having Lesley was an enormous help, too.”

To become a bereavement volunteer the hospice prefers prospective candidates to have waited two years after the death of a loved one before applying.

Lynne says it is something she intends to do after experiencing the support the service gave her.

She said: “The hospice people have been an enormous help, and I can’t praise them enough I don’t know how I’d have coped as well as I have – I’m sure I wouldn’t.”

St Leonard’s Hospice is looking for more people to train as bereavement volunteers. If you are a good listener and would like more information, visit stleonardshospice.org.uk or call Karen Stonehouse or Viv Blacker on 01904 708553.