Love After Loss – Burton Volunteers Find New Beginning Through St Giles Bereavement Support
A couple who met while volunteering at a St Giles Hospice bereavement support group have since married – and now dedicate their time to helping others through grief.
Their story highlights what Hospice Care Week, which runs from 6-12 October, is all about – showing that hospice care isn’t just about end of life care, but about supporting people and their loved ones at every stage, whether at home, in the community, or in the hospice.
Andy Barker, 71, and Rachel Barker, 59, first met at Burton Bereavement Help Point after both lost their spouses. Andy’s wife Belinda and Rachel’s husband Kev had both been cared for by St Giles Hospice.
What began as shared understanding in a support group gradually developed into a deep friendship, and eventually, love.
“I was resigned that I was on my own. I never expected to meet somebody and fall in love,” said Andy.
When he decided to propose on New Year’s Eve at home before heading out with friends, Andy admitted he had doubts about the timing.
“I’d been thinking about proposing for some time and I kept sort of holding back really thinking, well, is it too soon? I got down on one knee to propose, but then I needed some help getting back up again,” he added.
The couple married on 30 June at Cragwood Country House, Lake Windermere, with over 50 guests including family members from both their previous marriages.
The day included special touches that honoured their past whilst celebrating their future – a memorial dedication to Belinda and Kev, a boat ride across the lake, and readings from fellow Burton Bereavement Help Point volunteers.
“It was lovely because everyone was very much pleased. We had the whole family there, which was lovely, and it brought us all together,” said Rachel.
On their wedding day, the couple asked guests to donate to St Giles Hospice and the Christie Foundation instead of giving gifts.
Already dedicated volunteers, Andy and Rachel met while helping at the Burton Bereavement Help Point – where they now continue to support others through their grief. Andy also volunteers with kitchen duties at the hospice’s Whittington site.
Their message to others experiencing loss is clear: “It doesn’t show any disrespect to the person you’ve lost when you love again because there’s room in your heart to love again.”
St Giles Hospice runs 10 Bereavement Help Points across the community – informal, volunteer-led groups providing a hot drink and a safe space to talk about grief and loss with others in a similar situation. The hospice’s Family Support and Wellbeing team also offers pre-bereavement and bereavement support for St Giles patients and their loved ones, as well as specialist bereavement workshops to businesses, educational staff in schools and other groups.
For more details about Bereavement Help Points visit this link
