Hospice tribute to fundraising 'driving force'

Jack Honeybill headed a campaign to raise £4m for the hospice during his 20 years as chair

Guernsey's Les Bourgs Hospice has paid tribute to a "driving force" in its fundraising efforts who died in August.

Jack Honeybill, the former Deputy and chair of the Friends of Les Bourgs Hospice fundraising body, died on 28 August in Southampton General Hospital.

Mr Honeybill headed a campaign to raise £4m for the hospice during his 20 years as chair and was awarded an MBE in 2022 for services to charities in the island.

Hospice founder, Greville Mitchell OBE, said: "Nobody should ever underestimate what Jack did in supporting the Hospice.

"Jack started the Friends of Les Bourgs, was probably the single most driving force that drove the continuing funding which was way beyond our wildest dreams" said Mr Mitchell

Mr Honeybill was a States member between 2004 and 2012 and held community roles, including founding the charity Active Guernsey and leading the musical organisation Guernsey Concert Brass.

'Real people person'

Liz Stonebridge from the Hospice said he was an influential figure its history, having secured the £4m needed to redevelop its buildings.

"As soon as it was announced the rebuild was going to happen he really put his heart and soul into making sure the friends raised the money" she said.

She added: "What's really shone through by the tributes paid, is his tireless dedication to fundraising and just his enthusiasm.

"What he set up has been a lasting legacy and a real inspiration for what we are trying to do now to secure the ongoing fundraising to secure the future of the hospice".