In March 2026, following a hospital stay, David was admitted to Coventry Myton Hospice after living with lung cancer for several years. His niece, Sarah, said:
David wanted to come to Myton. It reached the point where he could no longer look after himself, so knowing he was somewhere safe, comfortable and being cared for so well gave us enormous reassurance.
We cannot put into words the care, compassion and dignity he received during his short time at Myton. The care my uncle received means I'll never be afraid of cancer or any other life-limiting illness. As long as places like Myton exist, there is no need to be scared.
David was a keen birdwatcher and loved animals. When he first arrived, he told me about the ducks and other wildlife outside his window. I thought the medication was making him imagine it all. Then, when we visited for the first time, we saw them ourselves.
The ducks pecked at the window, one of the nurses brought us food to feed them, and there were squirrels, robins and pigeons too. It felt as though they knew we were there, staying with us throughout our visits and bringing us comfort during such a difficult time.
It made us even more determined to give something back to Myton, even if it was only enough to help feed the animals and care for the beautiful gardens that meant so much to David.
David died on 2nd April, surrounded by those who loved him.
In his memory, David's family chose to collect donations at his funeral, raising an incredible £450. Wanting to do even more, David’s family decided to sell some of David's furniture and personal belongings, bringing their total donation to an amazing £1,000. This could fund a hospice inpatient bed at Myton for two days.
Sarah added:
No amount of money could ever repay the doctors, nurses and staff at Myton for everything they did for David and our family. Every single member of the team was kind, compassionate and always there whenever we needed them. Nothing was ever too much trouble, and they supported me too on the days when the emotion became overwhelming.
David would be absolutely delighted and so proud of the amount donated. Everyone who had the privilege of knowing him would understand why.
Natalie Watts, Legacy and In Memory Fundraiser at The Myton Hospices, said:
We are incredibly grateful to David’s family and everyone who donated in his memory. Choosing to support Myton at such a difficult time is a truly special way to celebrate the life of someone you love, and these gifts make a lasting difference for future patients and their families.
Every donation, no matter the size, helps us continue providing compassionate, specialist care for people living with life-limiting illnesses across Coventry and Warwickshire. We hope the family can take comfort in knowing that David's legacy will help ensure others receive the same outstanding care, compassion and dignity that meant so much to him and those closest to him.
It costs over £15 million every year to provide our services free of charge to our patients and their loved ones. As a charity, with less than 20% of our funding coming from the NHS, we must raise more than £12 million this year. We rely on the generosity of our community to ensure we can support more people like David and his family when they need us most.
To find out more about supporting your local hospice, visit the link below...
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