Interviewer

First of all, could I ask you your name?

 

Gordon Dempster

Gordon Dempster.

 

Interviewer

And which Friends group are you linked to?

 

Gordon Dempster

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

 

Interviewer

And can I ask, how old are you?

 

Gordon Dempster

74.

 

Interviewer

Excellent. So, we’re here today to talk about your experience of volunteering. So, what first got you involved with the Chelsea and Westminster Friends group?

 

Gordon Dempster

My mother had been in hospital over a period of 10 years off and on, and I just wanted to pay something back to society.

 

Interviewer

So was she in the Chelsea and Westminster?

 

Gordon Dempster

Yes.

 

Interviewer

And are you a local family, or do you have to travel in to get here?

 

Gordon Dempster

I’ve lived in Chelsea all my life.

 

Interviewer

Oh, excellent. Because that’s another difference between some Leagues of Friends, because the teaching hospitals sometimes have volunteers who travel from quite a long way outside of the area as volunteers. So, you’ve always been a local boy. You grew up around here. And did you always know the hospital?

 

Gordon Dempster

I knew it when it was St Stephen’s.

 

Interviewer

Oh did you?

 

Gordon Dempster

My father was treated in there and he died in there.

 

Interviewer

Yes. Okay. So there’s long family connections with the hospital. And how long ago did you get involved as a volunteer?

 

Gordon Dempster

I think it’s about five years ago now.

 

Interviewer

Okay. So had you had a working career outside of that?

 

Gordon Dempster

I was a clockmaker.

 

Interviewer

A clockmaker?! That’s a really interesting and unusual profession I would have thought. And do you still do some clockmaking?

 

Gordon Dempster

Very rarely.

 

Interviewer

And you worked in Chelsea to do that?

 

Gordon Dempster

Most of the time, you know. The firm I worked with moved out to Dorking area, when the recession set in, I went out there with them and just traveled backwards and forward.

 

Interviewer

So, and then were you helping to care for your mum when she was unwell? So you had some caring responsibilities?

 

Gordon Dempster

Yes. When I was 65, I had to retire so I could look after her.

 

Interviewer

And she lived with you?

 

Gordon Dempster

I live with her in the parental home.

 

Interviewer

Excellent. That’s good. So you lived with mum and then after mum had died, did you start volunteering or before?

 

Gordon Dempster

Yes.

Interviewer

And was that because there was a gap as well in your life? Something you wanted to do?

 

Gordon Dempster

Yes, like I said, I just wanted something to do and that helped pay back some of what their staff had done for them (my parents).

 

Interviewer

And when your Mum was using service, were you always aware that there was volunteers around?

 

Gordon Dempster

No.

 

Interviewer

So it feels to me though that you’re involved in quite a lot of different things now, is that fair in terms of volunteering?

 

Gordon Dempster

Yes.

 

Interviewer

I’ve just heard you say you’re collecting and delivering people to the hospital.

 

Gordon Dempster

Yes. Well that’s a neighbour.

 

Interviewer

Okay. Is it still helping out though?

 

Gordon Dempster

Yes.

 

Interviewer

So you do that, and do a trolley service?

 

Gordon Dempster

Not currently, because of COVID.

 

Interviewer

Okay. So tell me about the trolley service before COVID.

 

Gordon Dempster

I used to do it three half days a week.

 

Interviewer

Okay. And what sort of trolley service was it?

 

Gordon Dempster

Sweets, biscuits, you know, general things that the shop itself would sell.

 

Interviewer

And did people would like to chat you while you do?

 

Gordon Dempster

Yes. That’s why I’ve got a lot out of it. You know, you got to know some patients yes. Got on quite well with them and the staff.

 

Interviewer

And was it just a couple of wards you went to, or did you do more?

 

Gordon Dempster

17 wards I did.

 

Interviewer

17 wards? Sounds like a big job.

 

Gordon Dempster

It took a couple of hours, two or three hours.

 

Interviewer

And how did the staff react when they saw the trolley coming along?

 

Gordon Dempster

Depends on which ward I went into.

 

Interviewer

Okay.

 

Gordon Dempster

Some of them, they knew me because of the length of time my mother had been in there. Others got to know me.

 

Interviewer

Okay. Certainly my experience is that those trolley services are very welcome. Sometimes for staff because actually they could quite fancy a biscuit or a sweet in the middle of a shift, because often their blood sugar is going down. Also, I find it that we’ve had family members in hospital and even as a visitor, it provides another focus when you’re sitting at a bedside for something to say, “Oh, look Mum, the trolley’s here. Do you want anything?” And have a bit of a conversation? So yes, that’s great. So you do the trolley service, anything else?

 

Gordon Dempster

No.

Interviewer

Excellent. And you say it’s been a bit different during lockdown?

 

Gordon Dempster

I’ve been at home.

 

Interviewer

Has that made you think about the service? Have you wanted to get back to it or have you quite enjoyed the break?

 

Gordon Dempster

No, I want to get back, and she (my wife) won”t let me.

 

Interviewer

Not yet. So, I assume that there’s some hope that that might happen soon?

 

Gordon Dempster

Yes.

 

Interviewer

And you’re looking forward to that?

 

Gordon Dempster

Yes.

 

Interviewer

Brilliant. Okay. So do you think that there’s still a need for a truly service today?

 

Gordon Dempster

Yes. In as much as I’ve heard from the lady in the shop itself, an elderly late patient came down and asked her whether the books and the book trolleys were there. What she wanted was a book to read. But I haven’t been able to take them around.

 

Interviewer

And do you do the book trolley as well?

 

Gordon Dempster

No. I’ve been helping out, sort out books that have been accumulated.

 

Interviewer

So they haven’t really totally let you get let off then?

 

Gordon Dempster

I mean the last four or five weeks, yes.

 

Interviewer

Excellent. So there’s definitely been communication? You’ve still felt part of what’s going on here?

 

Gordon Dempster

Yes.

 

Interviewer

Okay. But we’ve all felt a bit isolated.

 

Gordon Dempster

Yes.

 

Interviewer

So, you think there’s still a need for the trolley services? What would you say if one of your friends or neighbours came to you, who’s not involved as a volunteer? What might you say to them to encourage them?

 

Gordon Dempster

Well, I have asked a couple of friends if they would go. One said they wouldn’t go near the hospital even if the hospital paid him. Unless he really has to, he wouldn’t go near a hospital. And he just don’t want to, you know, he’s got other things to do.

 

Interviewer

But why do you think they should get involved? What difference do you think it would make?

 

Gordon Dempster

It’s entirely up to them. It’s their own choice. I would never make somebody do anything.

 

Interviewer

But what difference does it make to you?

 

Gordon Dempster

It got me out of the house.

 

Interviewer

Okay. Good enough reason.

 

Interviewer

And have you made new friends and met new people?

 

Gordon Dempster

Yes.

 

Interviewer

That’s excellent.

 

Gordon Dempster

There again, not through that. And it’s not through the hospital, apart from the one person and she’s 93.

 

Interviewer

Well, there’s certainly a lot of older people involved! So, obviously you didn’t have that many pre-conceptions about what we might be asking you, but is there anything else that you think you’d want to say to me that you haven’t had the chance to say yet?

 

Gordon Dempster

Not really.

 

Interviewer

Okay. Well, that’s been lovely. Thank you so much for your time. Really appreciate that.