EXETER Hospiscare staff have been touched by a beautiful poem written about them by a patient’s 12-year-old grandaughter.

Josie Sanders, from Bow, wrote the poem as a way of coping with her grief after her beloved Grandad, Geoff Fletcher (80), who was from Crediton, spent his last few days at the city hospice, run by local charity Exeter Hospiscare.

Just six weeks earlier he had been diagnosed with bowel cancer.

Geoff’s family was overwhelmed by the care they all received at the Searle House Hospice and Josie wrote about this in her poem entitled: "Hos-Peace-Care."

Josie explained: “I found it easier to express my feelings in a poem rather than trying to speak them.

“Although some lines were difficult to write, others came a lot easier to me - it took me a while to get the tempo and the words. I wanted to capture the peace we all felt at the hospice.”

Josie inherited her grandfather’s gift and love of poetry, describing him as the “master of silly, fun, poems.”

Geoff’s daughter, Josie’s mum, Jenny Sanders said: “Dad fell in love with the place and the people; nothing was ever too much trouble for anyone.

"He had the best last week he could possibly have had.

“When we arrived at the hospice we could finally take a deep breath and relax.

"Dad loved watching the birds and squirrels in the garden and we knew he was safe there. It was so peaceful and relaxing there, which is where the name for the poem, ’Hos-peace-care’ came from.”

Josie’s poem has touched the hearts of many Hospiscare staff and a nurse keeps the framed poem on her desk.

Josie has also raised money for Hospiscare at her school, St Wilfrid’s in Exeter.

Alan Quick

HOS-PEACE-CARE

It’s like a slice of heaven

When you find yourself in hell

The dying given dignity

The living treated well.

In a world fraught with emotion

It’s a place for finding peace

A place of calm and loving

Where the fears you’ve had can cease

It’s quiet, not depressing

Like a haven in a storm

Thou’ focused on the dying

Its atmosphere’s still warm

When at the edge of reason

When life’s its most unfair

Be thankful and be grateful

Thank God for Hospiscare

Josie Sanders