Our Patrons

Tony Nunn

Having lived next door to the Hospice for 27 years the Hospice has always been close both physically and emotionally. In 2016 Tony chatted to neighbour and good friend Danny Wilson about doing something to help raise funds. They decided on charity Ball in 2017, which was hugely successful and became a permanent fixture until the 2020 event which became a casualty of the pandemic amongst other things of course and are now planning 2021’s event.  

Tony Nunn was invited to become a Patron in  2018. Tony says “This was indeed a great honour and one I was extremely proud to accept. I shall commit myself whilst ever able to assisting the Hospice in whichever way I can, the hospice needs us all now more than ever.”  

Tony comes from a Sheffield background and his family business being Redgates Toy Shop established 1857. The business was sold very skilfully in the late 80s by his father and Tony set up their own distribution of toys. The business is still going strong and Tony’s son Patrick is now 5th generation.  

“I wish all concerned health and happiness and let us strive to keep our wonderful institution in good standing for years to come” 

Danny Wilson

Danny Wilson is a football legend who played for 18 years and was also a Football Manager of over 1,000 games from Premier League to League Two, including Sheffield United FC, Barnsley, Bristol, Sheffield Wednesday and Chesterfield. 

Alongside Tony Nunn, Danny organises the Hospice’s annual Ball. He says “Having lived in the Ashgate area for over 40 years and seeing many times first hand, the warmth, care and the undoubted expertise Ashgate staff purvey, I am very proud to be honoured with the chance to act as a Patron. With the difficulties that we are facing and the need to keep this well established icon of our area, as strong as ever, it is only right that we can come together as a community to support Ashgate Hospicecare now and for many years to come.” 

Dr Richard Atkinson

Dick Atkinson was a consultant in Anaesthetics and Pain Medicine, an anaesthetic subspecialty, in Chesterfield, and then subsequently in Sheffield, retiring from the NHS in 2003, at which time he was one of a few full time specialists in pain medicine and palliative care.  

Qualifying at Barts in the 60’s he spent time as assistant professor at McGill University and the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal, Canada, having a special interest in nerve blocks and pain relief methods.  

In 1985 after the closure of Ashgate Annexe, with the support of North Derbyshire Health Authority requesting Trent Region not to sell it, he became Chairman of the appeal committee to convert it to a hospice. He became the first medical director when it opened in 1988. He is delighted at how Ashgate has broadened its services and become so well regarded in the community of Chesterfield and North Derbyshire, and indeed so well supported from so many quarters. 

During his career he has received honorary membership of the British Pain Society,  and the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland. He was also an initial recipient of the Fellow of the Faculty of Pain Medicine of the Royal College of Anaesthetists (FFPMRCA) when it was given assent as a new specialty. He has contributed chapters to a number of textbooks, and had many research papers published. 

In retirement he now enjoys being invited back to attend events and taking the opportunity to thank staff, volunteers and the public for their generous input, and admiring the wonderful expansion of services over the years. 

His main hobby is golf which includes helping with the annual Ashgate golf day organisation; also walking in the Peak District, skiing (carefully nowadays!), cooking, European travel, as well as organising social events and reunions. He is married to Barbara whom he thanks for her support over 53 years, and has four children and nine grandchildren locally, and in Leeds, Birmingham and Dublin. 

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, and we are delighted to have smashed through the £1million mark. 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.”