Our Patrons

Jean Horton

I’m Jean Horton and I became a Patron in April 2019. I joined Ashgate Hospicecare as a Trustee in 2006 and I was previously the Chair and Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees. I have also chaired the Fundraising Committee. I have organised many fundraising activities for Ashgate Hospicecare since 1989 and as a member of Soroptimist International of Chesterfield.

Previously, I was a teacher of children with special educational needs aged 11 to 16.

I am a member of various charity organisations and in the past was involved in a lot of fundraising and community work as volunteer.

My qualifications include M.Ed., (Hon) BA, Dip ED. and Cert Ed.

I enjoy being an ambassador for Ashgate Hospicecare, visiting all parts of the Hospice and the shops, as well as supporting and helping at events.

My hobbies include playing the piano, going to the theatre, reading, church work and spending as much time as possible with my grandchildren.

Graham Moore

Graham Moore is the Non-Executive Chairman of Westfield Health, a not for profit health insurer based in Sheffield. Graham is a leading figure in the health insurance industry and a well-known businessman in the Sheffield City Region.

Graham joined Westfield Health as Chief Executive in 1985 after more than 20 years in personnel management. He additionally became Chairman in 1995. Graham stepped down as Chief Executive in 2008 to concentrate on his role as Non-Executive Chairman and his involvement with the Westfield Health Charitable Trust.

A passionate supporter of a number of charities, Graham and Westfield have been a long-standing supporter of Ashgate Hospicecare.

Graham said: “I am delighted and honoured to become a patron at Ashgate Hospicecare.

It has been a privilege to support the charity in my role at Westfield and I will actively promote and raise the profile of this wonderful charity at every opportunity.

“Ashgate’s services provide a real life-line for people at a time when they need supporting the most. It really is a wonderful charity and one that I am very proud to be associated with.”

John Plant MBE

John Plant MBE, owner of company GW Price, joined as a patron of Ashgate Hospicecare in 2016.

John said, “My company GW Price was started over 115 years ago by my great grandfather and is a successful business selling fruit and produce. After a member of my family was cared for so well by Ashgate Hospicecare over two years ago, I thought it would be nice to give something back. I began supplying all the produce for free (worth over £8,000 a year) to the Hospice.”

“We are committed to helping Ashgate Hospicecare in every way that we can, now and in the future. The team at the Hospice are some of the nicest people that I have ever had the privilege to work with and I urge you to help them too, so that they can continue their excellent work for generations to come.”

David Hopkins

David Hopkins is a local businessman with a number of business interests, most notably Markovitz builders’ and plumbers’ merchants, which he owns with his brother Robert. He is the Chairman of Buxton Football Club, recently overseeing the launch of their full-time education Academy in partnership with Buxton & Leek College and the University of Derby. Over and above his support for Ashgate, he founded the initiative #ChallengeDerbyshire, raising money for end of life care in North Derbyshire with 70% of all money raised coming to the hospice.

David said “I started #ChallengeDerbyshire with the aim of raising £100,000 for the three main end of life care charities in North Derbyshire: Ashgate Hospicecare, Blythe House Hospicecare and Helen’s Trust. We quickly exceeded this amount and now, having engaged other local businesses to get involved, the total raised is fast approaching £1 million. At Markovitz, we are very proud to cover all costs associated with running #ChallengeDerbyshire, in our belief that excellent end of life care should be an absolute right for our community and not just a ‘nice to have’.

I am delighted to be a patron of Ashgate Hospicecare, such a worthy local charity which we should all be doing our utmost to ensure is there for generations to come.”

Claire Price

Chesterfield-born TV actress, Claire Price, was invited to become a patron of Ashgate Hospicecare following her appearance at the Hospice’s Leading Ladies lunch in 2014.

Claire said, “Having lost friends and family to cancer recently, I am honoured to have this opportunity to support an important local hospice as a patron. I have only been involved with the Hospice for a short while, but I am already very impressed by the care and ambition of its leaders and the generosity and heart of its supporters. I hope it continues to develop as it provides this crucial service.”