Beccy Harley, the catering manager for CH&Co Group at Sue Ryder Nettlebed Hospice in Henley-on-Thames, has celebrated double success at the Sue Ryder Southern Women Achievement Awards.
In recognition of her inspirational and unwavering dedication to the hospice, the patients and their families, her team and the Sue Ryder charity, Harley scooped two prestigious awards at a special event held at Reading Town Hall: the Sue Ryder Recognition Award and the Robyn Jones Southern Woman of Achievement Award – the highest accolade of the evening.
Harley has worked at Nettlebed hospice for 18 years, providing all meals for patients, staff and visitors. Her person-centred approach ensures mealtimes are homely, as enjoyable as possible and a source of comfort in what are emotionally challenging circumstances. Always putting the patients first, she has worked every Christmas Day to give people a memorable last Christmas, with all the trimmings.
Acutely aware that any meal could be a patient’s last, Harley does everything she can to make mealtimes special. Menus are tailored to the individual, offer a wide variety of choice, and mealtimes are flexible. Harley and her team are also happy to prepare something ‘off menu’ if that’s what a patient wants.
Harley said, “I’m thrilled and overwhelmed to have won these awards. I love working at the hospice and being able to make a difference. Food is so important in end-of-life care for patients and relatives, both physically and emotionally.
'I lost my husband to cancer so I know how comforting it is to see a loved one enjoy a meal and to share food with them. Giving our patients and their families the finest, freshly-prepared food that they want to eat, when they want to eat it, is what drives me and the team. These awards recognise their hard work too.”
Tim Jones, chairman of CH&Co Group and the husband of the late Robyn Jones OBE who inspired the Robyn Jones Southern Woman of Achievement Award, said, “My wholehearted congratulations to Beccy Harley. Her commitment to the Nettlebed Hospice patients and their families is incredible and she deserves such prestigious recognition. The Robyn Jones Southern Woman of Achievement Award is the highest accolade of the evening, as it celebrates the overall winner.
'Beccy’s understanding of how to bring comfort to patients and relatives in such difficult times, her ‘above and beyond’ approach and her continued dedication really impressed the judges of this award, and there was no doubt that she was its clear and worthy recipient. Robyn was always a champion of the unsung hero and she’d be delighted by Beccy’s success.”
The Sue Ryder Southern Women Achievement Awards celebrates women from across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire who have achieved notable success and stand out as a role model and inspiration to other women. The awards event also raises vital funds for the Sue Ryder Duchess of Kent and Nettlebed Hospices.