An inspirational visit from Simon Weston to St Barnabas House

Last week, we welcomed Falklands War veteran, Simon Weston CBE to meet some of our staff and patients.

After being severely injured and sustaining serious burns to 46% of his body during the Falklands War in 1982, Simon has become well-known across the UK and abroad for his struggle to overcome his injuries. His charitable work earned him an OBE in 1992 and a CBE in 2016 and he now inspires others with his messages of bravery, overcoming adversity and seizing the moment.

During his visit to St Barnabas House, Simon shared some stories of his experiences, speaking about the importance of having a positive mental attitude and how to deal with challenges. He also shared his reflection that perhaps our purpose in life is to ‘make a difference’ and to be courageous – something that resonated with hospice staff, who have been working tirelessly throughout the pandemic to ensure patients continue to receive the best quality of care.

As well as speaking to St Barnabas House staff, Simon visited our In Patient Unit.

Speaking about the visit, Ben Merrett, CEO of St Barnabas House said, “It was great to welcome Simon to the hospice. In addition to sharing some wonderful, inspiring stories, it was very special to see how much joy he brought to some of our patients.

“One gentleman was thrilled to speak to him, as he too had been involved in the Falklands. And another was profoundly moved and told him that he still grieves the loss of a friend in the Falklands War.

“There is no denying that the last year has been extremely difficult, and of course there are still challenges ahead. But meeting someone like Simon reminds us to focus on the present and make a difference where we can. For us at St Barnabas, that means ensuring we continue to be here for our local community, providing patients with the care and dignity they deserve, and ensuring their families receive the support they need.”