Family celebrates the memory of dedicated stroke volunteer with £5,000 donation

The family of a remarkable lady who dedicated almost 40 years supporting stroke-affected people in her local community in Nottingham has celebrated her memory by donating £5,000 to help the stroke recovery journeys of people in Bristol and South Gloucestershire.

Gladys Gell continued her voluntary work right into her 90s and then, at the age of 100, moved to Bristol to be close to her family. She spent her last years in a Hartcliffe care home, reaching the age of 102. 

Volunteering was always a major part of Gladys’ life: as well as being the “leading light” in the Sherwood Stroke Club in Nottingham over four decades, she joined the Red Cross in 1939 and stayed with them for half a century; she also ran a local children’s play group over many years.

But it was her years of dedicated service to local stroke-affected people that inspired her family to pledge £5,000 to Bristol After Stroke – a donation that their CEO Rebecca Sheehy described as one “that will make a huge difference to the lives of many stroke-affected people”.

Speaking on behalf of Mrs Gell’s family, her daughter Helen Holland, a former Bristol councillor and cabinet member said: “Mum spent so much of her life volunteering at her local stroke group and knew the massive difference it made to stroke-affected people to be able to socialise with others and gain confidence. Supporting the excellent work that Bristol After Stroke does in the Bristol area seemed like the perfect way to celebrate her life.”

Gladys’ son, David, echoed those sentiments: “Everyone who knew Mum described her energy and the brilliant way she would organise events, trips, guest speakers and activities, referring to her as ‘the captain of the ship’. “She was quite a remarkable lady who was still making a positive difference to people’s lives until her last few years – and was recognised in her community with a prestigious local award.”

Added Rebecca Sheehy: “We know from our own work that volunteers are the lifeblood of local charities, and this is a lovely way to celebrate Gladys’ lifetime of dedicated service. We are incredibly grateful for her family’s generosity.

“Donations and legacies make a massive difference to us, as a large part of our work supporting around 1,300 people locally every year depends upon charitable giving.”