In the autumn of 2022, 100 Longfield supporters attended a special afternoon with actor Richard E. Grant, raising almost £5,000 for our free hospice care.

The Oscar nominated star has championed Longfield since we cared for his late wife, the dialect coach Joan Washington. During the event, Richard shared stories from his memoir, A Pocketful of Happiness. “Joan did this very smart thing,” he told a full house at the Electric Picture House Cinema in Wotton under-Edge. “She said to my daughter and I, four days before she died, ‘try and find a pocketful of happiness in every day.’ It gave us permission to find joy and happiness in things, without feeling any guilt.”

Richard also spoke movingly of Joan’s final weeks, including support from our Hospice at Home team, which he called ‘a godsend’. “Longfield gave us incredible emotional and practical help,” he said, describing our nurses and healthcare assistants as ‘empathetic, sympathetic and compassionate’. Richard spoke of being overwhelmed and exhausted – a feeling many of us caring for family members will understand.

“The Longfield team came three times a day and somebody came at 10pm and stayed… until the morning, enabling my daughter and I to sleep… so we weren’t in a ragged state of insomnia,” he said. “The difference that made to us was worth more than money can buy.” A big thank you to Richard E. Grant for gifting his time and sharing stories that made us laugh and cry. Thank you to everyone who bought a ticket, to the Electric Picture House Cinema for free use of the wonderful venue, and Renishaw for sponsoring the event.