| Ros Beetham |
 Ros Beetham's early promise was in the field of linguistics and she spent time in France and Spain. However, after becoming
engaged, she obtained a post as a medical secretary in London, then married and began working as an assistant to her husband,
a dentist seeking to qualify in medicine whilst running a late night practice from home. After seven years' hard work Mr Beetham
qualified and took a post in Sheffield. It was Mr Beetham who then suggested that his wife, Ros, explore the idea of volunteering
at the planned hospice for Sheffield, St Luke's, and in 1971 she wrote to Eric Wilkes. Administrator, Colin Bibby, then invited
Ros Beetham to become Organiser of Volunteers. In post, she contacted her counterpart at St Christopher's, Sheila Hanna, but
felt that St Luke's' needs were different to those in London. The interview discusses the selection, training, work and support
of volunteers, as well as the opening of the day unit in 1975, co-ordination of use of volunteers with other heads of department,
stress and bereavement in volunteers, and the role of local churches. The interview also looks at counselling, management
issues, and the National Council for Hospice and Specialist Palliative Care Services. In 1990 Ros Beetham became the Chair
of the National Association of Hospice Volunteer Co-ordinators, and has also held the posts of President and Conference Organiser.
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| Interview conducted by Neil Small, 19 December 1996 |
| Interview Duration: 1 hour, 36 minutes |
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