A volunteer who has given 26 years of service to Havens Hospices has received the Order of Mercy, one of the country’s most prestigious honours for voluntary service.

Bobbie Nichols, from Westcliff-on-Sea, was presented with the award by Lord Lingfield, President of The League of Mercy Foundation, at a ceremony at Haberdashers’ Hall in the City of London on Friday 3 July.

Bobbie has volunteered for Havens Hospices since November 1999, taking on two roles: Care Assistant at Little Havens, the charity’s children’s hospice, and Fundraising Administrator.

At Little Havens, Bobbie takes full responsibility for the hospice’s card-writing programme. She chooses and organises birthday cards for every child under the hospice’s care and anniversary cards for families whose loved ones have died, updating family lists each month so cards reach families at the right time. She also supports the weekly ‘Stay and Play’ sessions, helping the Care Team and spending time with children and their families.

Lorraine Wilce, Children and Young People’s Service Coordinator at Little Havens, said: “The impact Bobbie has on writing cards for our families, and her support at Stay and Play, is immeasurable. She always has a cheerful smile and fits in with the team beautifully. We would be lost without her.”

As Fundraising Administrator, Bobbie assists with a wide range of tasks, including printing and updating databases, conducting research, and writing thank-you letters. She has taken particular ownership of managing Gift-in-Kind donations, ensuring supporters are thanked quickly and accurately.

Lucy Lock, Community Engagement Manager, said Bobbie’s contribution to the fundraising team has been just as valuable: “Bobbie is a dedicated, reliable and thoughtful volunteer who brings real care to everything she does. Without her, we would greatly miss her reliability, her meticulous attention to detail, and the warmth she brings to the team.”

Bobbie was presented with her medal at Haberdashers’ Hall, watched by her daughter, Laura, and Donna White, a play specialist at Little Havens who works alongside Bobbie each week. HRH Princess Katarina of Yugoslavia and the League’s trustees also attended the ceremony, which included a performance by a quintet of young musicians and was followed by an informal tea.

Speaking about receiving the award, Bobbie said: “It was a bit of a shock when I found out I’d been chosen – there are so many people who work tirelessly for Havens Hospices and other charities that I found myself thinking, why me? The ceremony itself was very emotional, hearing the stories of the other people being recognised, especially some young Army Cadets who had each individually been awarded for saving a life – it was very humbling.”

“I’ve been volunteering for 26 years at the charity, so I have many memories and tales to tell, including when we moved into our new Priory Crescent premises and coping with Covid. When I started volunteering, Fair Havens was a small local service known to a few, but it has now grown into a well-respected and valued part of the community.

“I love my role as a volunteer – everyone here makes me feel like one of the team, not just someone who comes in each week to help. I look forward to my sessions with the children and having fun with them. Volunteering gives you a wonderful sense of purpose in retirement, and working alongside young people helps you stay in touch with a changing world.”

The League of Mercy was founded on 30 March 1899 by the Royal Charter of Queen Victoria and was re-founded in 1999 as a UK-registered charity, one hundred years after its first establishment. Today, the awards are given to those who have provided outstanding voluntary service for at least seven years.

Volunteers like Bobbie are an important part of how Havens Hospices delivers care. In the past year, volunteers gave their time across the charity’s hospices and shops, saving Havens Hospices more than £2.2 million.

Havens Hospices provides free, expert, compassionate care and support for people of all ages living with complex or incurable conditions, and their families, so they can make every day of their lives count.

Find out more about the volunteering opportunities at Havens Hospices and apply online.

Published 21 July 2026