Les Reid, fundraiser for Beaumond House Hospice Care, awarded national award at the Palliative and End of Life Care Awards

A kind-hearted widower, who has thrown his support behind the charity that helped care for his wife, has won a national award in recognition of his incredible fundraising efforts.

Les Reid, a man known to Newark as keeper of the Leicester Trader, the Newark Heritage Barge was nominated for the best fundraiser category at the Palliative and End of Life Care Awards by Newark based-charity Beaumond House Hospice Care.

The ceremony, which was presented by Good Morning Britain star Kate Garraway, paid tribute to individuals and organisations that excel in end of life and palliative care.

Les’ wife Marian was diagnosed with cancer in 2018 and was given just four to eight months to live.

During the final months of her life, she was cared for at home by the Beaumond House Hospice at Home team.

He said: “It is an honour but the whole idea of this publicity is to help Beaumond House, always.

“They nursed my wife when I was worn out from doing it as the illness started about 10 years before she died.

“Marian wanted to spend her final days at home so they were coming four times a day. We turned the front room into a hospital and we had equipment brought in and support, from therapy to palliative care and district nurses.

“Some people try to forget when they lose someone but I don’t.”

Marian died in June 2022 and since then Les has honoured her memory by raising almost £6,000 for the hospice.

Just two months after Marian died, Les organised a garden party which raised just under £2,000 — valuable money that funded two rise and recline chairs for Beaumond House.

Les added: “Marian knew the end was imminent and she didn’t want anyone to be sad.

“Her final instructions were to hold a garden party at home to raise funds for Beaumond House and to send her ashes skyward in a rocket, a purple rocket to be precise, as this was her favourite colour.”

Louise Sinclair, the charity’s chief executive officer, said: “We recognised that he had gone the extra mile in his fundraising with him being so early in his bereavement, especially when he was following out his wife’s wish to host the garden party.

“He was very modest when we nominated him but we recognise something special about his story and we are very proud of him and I am proud to know him.”

Since the garden party, Les continued to raise funds for the hospice and has organised another two fundraising events.

One of them saw him shave off his trademark beard and another saw his friend Aimee and her daughter Violet shave their heads.

As a result of that, the charity has been able to buy a third rise and recline chair for one of its in-patient rooms.

Andrea Ward, individual giving manager at Beaumond House — who nominated Les for the award — said: “When I first contacted Les about the awards, he told me that there were probably people who had raised more money for the hospice than he had. But for me, this award was about much more.

“Les has shown dedication and commitment to raising money and awareness of the hospice. His first fundraising event was just a few weeks after Marian’s death, but he was determined to make it happen and did a fantastic job.

“I am so proud to have been able to work alongside Les and his family, and support them through their journey. This award couldn't be more well-deserved.”

Les’s daughters Anita Bird and Julie Reid said: “We are immensely proud. Just after Marian died he decided to do this. It was Marian's wishes and he wanted to honour them.”