ON DECEMBER 10, a procession of candles will twinkle its way through Maidstone, celebrating the memory of loved ones who have passed away and raising funds for the Heart of Kent Hospice, Aylesford.

Connie Davies, whose husband was a patient at the hospice, tells why she is supporting Light Up A Life.

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THE Heart of Kent Hospice gave Dennis Davies back some of the independence of which cancer threatened to rob him.

His wife Connie Davies, 79, of London Road, Maidstone, smiles through tears when she remembers what the hospice did for her husband, who was first referred there about five years ago.

On the day we met at the hospice at Preston Hall, Aylesford, Mrs Davies was greeted with warm hugs by Shirley Morse, one of the nurses who looked after her husband.

"He loved coming here," said Mrs Davies. "This was his place. Somewhere he could come without me, on his own. Everywhere else, I had to go with him.

"When he first started to come, he was more able. He could make a cup of tea, for instance, and I can remember one Monday morning, being woken up at 4am with a cup. I said: 'What are you doing?' and he said: 'It’s hospice day. I don’t want to be late'. He really was so eager to get here.

"The first time he came back, he brought me a teddy bear off the stall. That was another thing he liked about coming here – he could shop.

"He stood in the middle of the lounge and said: 'It couldn’t be better. It’s lovely. I had a lovely time'."

By co-incidence, when Mr Davies retired and while he was still in good health, he used his creative talents to raise money for the Shropshire and Mid Wales Hospice, in the area where the couple used to live.

As a result, Mr Davies knew about the work done by hospices, and was not in the least worried about going to one himself.

"There was no thinking: 'You are going to die' which is what a lot of people think," said Mrs Davies. "They are special places. When you come into a hospice, you feel cared for. You feel surrounded by love and caring."

Towards the end of his life, Mr Davies also began suffering from heart problems and dementia. His wife continued to care selflessly for him but this placed heavy restrictions on her own life – even a shopping trip would have been out of the question without having a place at the hospice for her husband.

Mrs Davies said: "Knowing Dennis was safe here, I could go out and do the shopping or have a coffee with a friend. Knowing he was all right, it gave me a bit of free time, and also a chance to relax."

She also joined a group for carers. It was an opportunity to meet others in a similar position and get practical advice about benefits and aids available to her.

"We would just generally chat to one another and, perhaps, get things off our chests," said Mrs Davies. "Not everyone can handle that, but I found them very helpful."

* The Heart of Kent Hospice’s Light Up A Life event will begin at the Lockmeadow complex, Barker Road, at 4.30pm, on December 10, process over the Millennium Bridge and end with a service at the Archbishop’s Palace.

Candles will be sold for £2.50 each and there is a suggested donation for dedications. All proceeds will go to the Heart of Kent Hospice, Aylesford.