Our patrons
John Parrott, MBE
John became a Patron of Woodlands Hospice Charitable Trust in November 2003 and is very proactive in supporting and raising the awareness of the Hospice.
John contributes in various ways and has, for many years, hosted the John Parrott Annual Golf Day in aid of the Hospice. He has also completed a number of personal fundraising events to further assist income generation and has visited the Hospice on numerous occasions to meet patients, including the event of the Royal Visit of Prince Edward in 2011.
John has become one of Snooker’s most instantly recognisable faces and has done much to popularise the Sport - both on and off the table. He has managed to juggle his position as a Snooker Professional with a successful television career, initially through his team Captaincy on the BBC’s ‘A Question of Sport' and more recently as a Presenter of televised Snooker Championships alongside fellow World Champion Steve Davis.
On a more personal front, John is a Liverpudlian with that typical sense of humour. He has many other interests, one being a strong liking for horse racing, with his love of horses and the racing atmosphere. He supports Everton Football Club and is also a very keen golfer with a current Handicap of 3.He was awarded an MBE in 1996.
We are very grateful to John and his family for their ongoing support and appreciate the recognition of his involvement with the Hospice as he sums up in his own words below:
“Having been involved as a Patron of Woodlands Hospice since 2003, I have seen first hand the wonderful work the Staff undertake on a daily basis. The changes have been quite remarkable in the progression of the Hospice in the last 10 years, with facilities that are second to none. I am sure the high levels of care will continue at Woodlands Hospice and I am proud to be involved as Patron for such a wonderful and caring Charity”
Alison Perry, OBE
Alison has been an energetic and passionate supporter of Woodlands Hospice since 2012, initially connecting with the hospice through the Community Therapy Outreach Service and going on to host the annual Black Tie & Diamonds and Masquerade summer and winter balls, raising considerable funds for the service. She became a patron in 2019.
Alison is happily married and has a daughter and two grandchilden. In her early years she was a Girl Guide leader at her local parish in Crosby and also a full-time dental nurse. She later joined the construction industry and as part of her commitment to the industry, Alison became part of The National Federation of Builders’ (NFB), served as National Chairman in 2011 and represented the members at the highest level. The highlight of her career was being honoured with an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2012 for services to the construction industry.
As her career progressed, Alison continued with her own training in accountancy exams and in 2012, she joined a large technology group selling full fibre services across the UK and was an integral part of their accounts and HR team.
Of her appointment Alison said: “I was delighted to be invited as a Patron of Woodlands and I have a desire for the hospice to succeed. I want to help spread the word of the work of the Hospice and raise the awareness - reaching out to those in the community now and in the future. Woodlands is such a beautiful place. The staff work so hard to ensure that life does not end without an appropriate care plan. Woodlands is not just about end of life. They help patients and families to have a quality of life whilst living with their illness. It was due to the dedication and kindness of the hospice team for a very dear friend that led me to begin fundraising in her memory”.
Stephen A. Gent
Stephen has been a long-term supporter of Woodlands Hospice having been encouraged, many years ago, to help raise much needed funds. For several years Stephen organised an annual Christmas Carol Concert, held at Old Roan Methodist Church, on behalf of the Hospice's Old Roan Support Group.
Stephen has known many people who have received the loving care and support provided by Woodlands Hospice. Sadly, he and his family have had firsthand experience of the nursing-angels at Woodlands, as the Hospice provided a home to his dear Dad, Ian, during his last days.
Stephen has lived in Aintree Village most of his life. He attended Aintree Davenhill and Maghull High Schools before studying at Edge Hill University, Ormskirk. He is a career civil servant based in Liverpool. Stephen is a Christian and worships at Old Roan Methodist Church where he serves as a Church Steward, leads worship and is very active in the life of the Church.
Stephen is very community minded, having served as a Parish Councillor for eight years and was Chairman of the Council in 2015/16 - Woodlands Hospice being his nominated charity. He has also served on the Aintree Ratepayers' Association and Aintree Village Neighbourhood Watch. Stephen currently serves on the Governing body at Aintree Davenhill.
On his appointment Stephen said: "I am deeply honoured to have been appointed as a Patron of Woodlands Hospice. It is a charity that is very close to my heart. Ever since my Dad, Ian, was admitted into the care of the hospice back in August 2018 my family and I have received much love, care and support. Simply put the Hospice enabled us to be a family rather than carers. We have since been enrolled as members of the extended 'Woodlands Hospice Family.' I will champion the work of the hospice to the best of my ability."