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Stephen, aged 69, has been bringing live music to patients’ bedsides for over a year at North Mid, St Michael’s Primary Care Centre, and more recently, CFH.
His performances have endeared him to those on the wards and in the local community. His signature rendition of The Beatles’ ‘Twist and Shout’ is a favourite amongst staff and patients alike, who can often be seen dancing to his music. Stephen has even been nicknamed ‘Elvis’ by staff who see him in the hospital corridors.
Reflecting on his volunteering experience, Stephen said: “It's one of the best things I've ever done in my life, and I get so much joy from it. I do get recognised in the street sometimes – someone once stopped me and said, ‘you played to my neighbour in the hospital and they showed me a video of you’.”
After retiring from his job at a trading company in 2021, and sadly becoming a widower shortly after, Stephen had time on his hands and felt he could do more. It was two years later that his hospital volunteering journey began when he became a patient himself at North Mid.
Stephen said: “A year and a half ago, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. I used to joke around with the radiotherapy team when receiving my cancer treatment at North Mid. One day they said, ‘you’d be great as a volunteer’. I saw an advert on the noticeboard and applied – three months later, I was in.”
At first, Stephen was based in the reception at North Mid and helped direct patients to their appointments. However, once a supervisor discovered his musical talent, he was quickly recruited to the wards.
He said: “I could write a book about the stories I hear – sad ones and funny ones. I've played to people who are at the end of their life, and you can see the recognition of music in their eyes. Some patients don’t want music, so I don’t always play, but my talent isn’t music – it's in cheering people up. I can’t believe the experiences I’ve had and the people I’ve met.”
Ward clerk Stella Kaizer often welcomes Stephen to Topaz Ward at North Mid. She said: “He makes everyone smile. We once had four ladies who weren’t communicating, two of which had dementia, but when Stephen visited they were like different people. They were laughing and clapping together. It can be emotional to see that change in patients – it makes a massive difference. We even join in sometimes!”
Georgia Lucas is a general practitioner on Canterbury ward at CFH. She said: “Stephen is an incredible volunteer who brings so much joy and warmth to our patients. He has not only brightened the days of so many but has provided comfort and emotional support when it’s needed most. His kindness and dedicated have touched countless lives and he continues to uplift everyone around him. We are so grateful for the positive impact he makes.”
Stephen often plays at open mic nights outside his volunteering hours. A man of many talents, he also attends Latin American and ballet dance classes at the weekend, something he used to do with his late wife Maureen.
Maureen was cared for at the Royal Free Hospital before she passed away in 2021. Stephen spoke about the care she received: “I wrote a letter to staff to say thank you for the attention they gave her, and the dignity with which she passed away. They were amazing. And my cancer treatment at North Mid was brilliant. I had to face it alone and the staff made me feel so much better.”
Stephen has become part of the hospitals’ teams and hopes to continue cheering people up with his music.
He said: “Now, I see another side to what the staff do and how hard they work. They also make me feel like part of the team, and I’m just a volunteer – I've got a guitar instead of a stethoscope. Losing my wife made me appreciate life even more, and I know volunteering is my path now.”
