A NEW chapter is about to be written in the life of a ‘pillar of the hospital community’ who is retiring after 20 years of service to patients.

Lead Chaplain Avril Daffydd-Lewis has been an important part of life at University Hospital Llandough for a number of years but has chosen to retire to pursue her goal of becoming a successful author – she has already won the backing of a New York Times bestselling author who has agreed to become her mentor.

Friends, family and colleagues joined Avril for a retirement lunch at the hospital chapel.

Peter Welsh, the General Manager at UHL, paid tribute to Avril’s role in hospital life.

He said: “What an impact she has had here at Llandough. If there’s one person who is known throughout the hospital it is Avril. The support she has given to staff is incredible – we can’t thank her enough in that respect.

“There is a sense of community here and Avril is a real pillar of that and we are all really sorry to see you retiring but we are sure we will see you again.”

Avril, from Nelson, was a driving force behind the establishment of the Llandough Hospital Choir which now performs regularly in the hospital and community. Her work with the choir is one of her best memories.

She said: “One of the best things has been bringing the hospital community together with the choir. That has enabled me to support staff as well as families.

“There’s a huge energy and zeal behind the choir so that’s been wonderful for them.

“I’m going to miss the people. Llandough people have been amazing to work with. They are resilient, compassionate, supportive – there isn’t one department that hasn’t supported me in my chaplaincy ministry and that’s what I’ll miss the most.”

Avril, who has worked in the NHS in Rhondda and Bristol, will be visiting Canada to work with her new author mentor and also to Los Angeles, where she had been offered the opportunity to continue her chaplaincy work, to collaborate with a motivational speaker.

She said while she is looking forward to spending time with her St Bernard dogs, her ‘girls’, she will still be playing an active role in the choir.

Avril added: “My best memory is developing the choir and all the things we do for charity in the community now, and being finalists in the Music in Hospitals awards last year, and being invited to sing again at the Festival Choirs in Coity Castle.”

Reverend Peter Davies, Hospital Chaplain, worked with Avril for the last three years.

He said: “It is a sad day for all of us. On behalf of everyone I’d like to say a big thank you for all the hard work during the last few years. We wish you the best with what you do in the future.”