I want to say thank you for taking the time to read this.
What I’m about to share is our journey through The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice.
It’s not just a story about the end of my wife Michele’s life. It’s about what the hospice gave us during our time there.
Frank Bannon
Early Connections to the Hospice
In early 2023, my wife Michele visited The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice with her sister Louise. It wasn’t a clinical visit. It was simple and ordinary: two sisters having lunch together in Café BARGACREE.
They had recently lost their mother, who chose to spend her final days at home, and they both wished she had received hospice care at the end of her life.
There was something about the hospice that stayed with Michele that day.
She said it felt beautiful. Peaceful. Different from what people might expect a hospice to be. The team were so friendly and kind.
And in that moment, Michele made a passing comment:
“When my time comes, I’d want to be in here.”
On that day, Michele didn’t mean any time soon. She thought that moment belonged to a much older version of herself, far off in the future.
But even then, something in her recognised what the hospice truly was.
A Place Already Known to the Family
During the summer of 2025, the hospice became part of our family’s story in another way.
Our daughter Stacey regularly brought my dad to the café after walks in Bellahouston Park for a bowl of lentil soup and a roll while she was caring for him.
Again, it wasn’t a visit centred on end-of-life care. It was about kindness, warmth and being welcomed in.
The hospice wasn’t a place of fear. It was a place where people could come in, be looked after and feel human.
Without fully realising it, our family was already becoming familiar with what the hospice truly offered.
Our Last Lunch Date
On 24 October 2025, 25 days after being diagnosed with secondary liver cancer that had spread from her colon, my wife Michele and I went to the hospice together for lunch.
At the time, it was just that: a romantic lunch date. Time together. Something normal in the middle of all the chaos.
The food was beautiful, and I remember commenting that they served the best cheeseburger in Glasgow.
Looking back, it was the last place we were able to go on a proper date together as a couple.
The food was stunning, the atmosphere vibrant, and the floor-to-ceiling windows filled the building with light. There was a wonderful sense of space throughout. It felt open, yet strangely intimate.
But more than anything, we noticed the people, and the kindness in the way everyone carried themselves.
And Michele loved the little touches: the peace of the sanctuary, the memorial tree, the lightness of the space, and the lovely homemade tablet you could buy.
That kind of simple, thoughtful detail meant something to her.
It didn’t feel like a hospice at all.
It felt like somewhere you would choose to be.
Admission to the Hospice
Michele was transferred to The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice from The Beatson on Monday 16 February.
Michele’s chemotherapy journey had sadly changed to palliative care.
What had been, until then, a place we had visited, a place we had known in gentler ways, now became somewhere we truly needed.
There was a weight to that moment.
An understanding of what it meant.
And yet, it wasn’t unfamiliar.
It was somewhere Michele already knew, had chosen in her own quiet way, long before we arrived there together.
First Impressions
On arrival, Michele was taken privately to her room.
I was brought to a garden room while she was being admitted.
A member of staff stayed with me and explained that it wouldn’t be long before I could go through and help get her settled.
I was very aware of the heaviness of the moment, what this step meant.
But the staff member didn’t rush it. They took the time to talk with me and gently reassure me.
That mattered.
How Michele Was Received
Michele was welcomed by the staff nurse and doctor, who spent time with her going through her admission.
It wasn’t rushed. It felt thorough, but also personal and natural.
After that, I was invited into the room to join the discussion, so we could go through everything together.
From the beginning, it felt like we were both included.
Environment, Staff and Atmosphere
What struck me immediately was how calm and peaceful everything felt.
The ward didn’t feel clinical at all. It felt more like a luxury hotel than a hospital environment.
There was a quietness to it, not empty, but gentle. The kind of space that lets you breathe.
And the staff carried themselves in that same way: calm, present, and kind.
How I Felt
Walking in that day, I was incredibly anxious.
I knew that we were beginning the final part of our journey together.
There was also a sense of disorientation. It was my first real experience of a hospice, and I didn’t yet know how things worked or what to expect.
I told the staff this.
They responded immediately, not with instructions, but with care.
They took the time to show Michele and me around, giving us a tour of the facilities so we could get our bearings and feel more settled in the space.
The Facilities
While Michele was spending time getting to know the staff, I was shown her room.
I was taken through everything: where things were, how they worked, the bathroom, the fridge, the safe, and the TV.
After that, we were shown the wider ward and family areas.
At the centre of the two beautiful wards was a large family space, a shared area between rooms where relatives could gather.
There was a kitchen space where you could make tea and coffee, and a large dining table that could seat around 12 people.
I was told this was intentional: a place for families to come together, eat, and create a sense of normality during what is otherwise a very difficult time.
You could order food from the cafe upstairs or bring your own food in.
Everything was provided: plates, cups, cutlery, and condiments.
There was milk, juice, and cereal. Small, everyday things, but they made a big difference.
Spaces for Everyone
We were also shown the wider facilities across The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice.
There were visitor toilets, a gaming room for young people, a sensory room, and a spa bath room for patients.
There were two family rooms available for relatives who wanted to stay overnight.
Upstairs, there was a wellbeing area that included:
- an art room
- a hair and nail salon
- complementary therapies
- a celebration room
- a sanctuary
- a cafe
- a function room
I was also told about the chaplaincy and talking therapy support available to our family through the hospice. It was clear that The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice didn’t just care for the patient. It cared for the whole family.
Freedom to Be There
One of the most important things I was told was that there were no visiting restrictions for me.
I could be there with Michele as much as I needed.
There was no sense of having to leave, just the freedom to be present with her.
It was explained to me that there was a pull-down bed in Michele’s room and that I was welcome to use it at any time.
That meant everything to both of us.
Michele had already told me how important my presence was to her, especially at night.
Michele Settling In
Michele settled into the room very quickly.
The room was spacious, and we added more than a few personal touches from home.
Very quickly, it felt like our space.
Care as a Partnership
I had been Michele’s primary carer throughout her cancer journey.
From the moment we arrived, the staff made me feel like part of the team. I felt valued, included, and listened to.
My experiences and observations were taken seriously and were used to help shape Michele’s care.
The staff introduced themselves by name until we got to know them, and they were attentive to both of us.
This kindness and compassion were consistent throughout the whole building.
Relief from Pain
Before coming into The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice, the pain Michele was experiencing was indescribable. For over three months, it had not been properly controlled.
Within three days, the hospice team brought her pain under control for the first time.
For the first time in months, Michele had peace.
She had comfort. She had clarity.
Living and Loving to the Fullest
Even with everything going on, we still had time for what mattered most.
Living our life together. Loving each other to the fullest of our capabilities.
Then, one evening in early March 2026, at sunset, in that calm space, something magical happened.
On Tuesday 3 March, we renewed our wedding vows in The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice sanctuary. Just five days before, I had asked Michele if she would like to do this.
What was meant to be a humble, quiet moment in her bedroom then became something extraordinary. The staff had heard about our modest plans and helped transform the ceremony into something deeply beautiful.
Alex and Nicola supported us that night, but there was a whole hospice team, including volunteers, behind them who made it happen.
They lifted our love up where it belonged.
There was a full wedding arch, professional lighting, a photographer, flowers, candles, music, and a wedding cake.
Afterwards, we gathered in the celebration room, toasting each other and sharing that gorgeous cake decorated with Michele’s favourite yellow tulips.
Life Within the Hospice
During our time in The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice, we regularly visited the beautiful garden together. Michele used to say she chose yellow tulips as her motif because they represented a spring she would never see, but she did.
In the garden outside her room, she witnessed the first blossoms on the trees and the first shoots of the spring flowers in the flower beds.
Everything was accessible, which meant Michele could still be part of those moments.
She also had her hair styled and her nails done, and enjoyed reiki, something she loved, all provided by hospice volunteers.
As a carer, I was able to rest, eat properly, and regain strength.
We had space for fun, for family, for love.
The staff were incredible: kind, attentive, and deeply human.
They quickly got to know us.
The reception team supported me emotionally, noticing when I struggled and taking time to listen, even offering comfort through simple human gestures such as a hug or taking me to a quiet space to talk.
At the same time, the medical team were relentless in ensuring Michele’s pain remained controlled.
They never let it slip.
Restoring What Was Lost
Because of that incredible care, we were given something back as a couple.
For over four weeks before arriving, I had not been able to simply hold my wife. She was in too much pain.
In The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice, we could hold one another again.
We could be close. We could be a normal, affectionate couple again.
We were also able to have the hardest conversations.
They shaped Michele’s wishes.
And because of that time, I was able to fulfil her funeral wishes completely.
That is an utterly priceless gift.
More than that, The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice gave us the space and the peace to love each other fully.
To complete our marriage journey in every way.
Honouring each other in sickness and in health, completely.
The Spirit of the Hospice
The building has a peace and serenity that is tangible.
But at the same time, it is also alive, bustling with hope.
I used to say to the staff that the bricks themselves felt special, imbued with something magical.
And I now realise what it is. It isn’t just the building.
It is the love and compassion of the whole team within it.
It is truly a place far more than the sum of its parts.
Michele’s Final Days and Passing
In the days leading up to Michele’s passing, I began to notice the changes.
Because of how close I was to her, I could see what was happening, and the staff listened to me and supported me through those changes.
In the last two days, everything around us became quieter.
Space was made for us.
Comfort became paramount, and the staff ensured that in every way.
It was as if the bustle and vibrancy of life gently shifted into calmness, almost slow motion, into a stillness that held us.
The Final Night
The night before Michele slipped away, the therapists spoke to me. They told me to go and simply ‘be’ with my wife.
To hold her close. That’s all she needed.
Those words were indeed prophetic. Powerful. Grounded in extensive experience.
A Family Held Together
Family were called the night before, and a family room was immediately made available for them.
Everything was handled quickly, quietly, and with care.
In her final hours, I was given the privilege of holding my wife close.
That night, I lay beside Michele, and as she slipped away from me, I held her as tightly as I could.
But no matter how hard I held, I couldn’t stop it.
And yet, I was there with her.
That time was still. Quiet and peaceful.
And when the moment came, I knew.
I knew she was at rest.
Michele passed peacefully, aged 57, on Wednesday 11 March 2026 at 7:28am, surrounded by her close family.
The staff were there with us immediately. They comforted us with affection, presence, and hugs.
They consoled us and took care of Michele with professionalism, dignity, and tenderness.
Michele looked so serene. A gift given to us that I firmly believe only The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice could have given us.
How the Hospice Held Me
In that moment, I felt held. I felt held by every member of the team in the building.
It is indescribable, even to this day.
Their experience showed in everything they did. The love and compassion within the building flowed through them and into me.
We were given time with Michele after she passed.
Precious time.
A Truth About the Journey
In our time at The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice, only one thing was painful.
Michele’s passing.
Everything else was living. Loving. Being.
Returning to the Hospice
I returned to The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice just eight days after Michele passed, to continue my talking therapy.
Many people were surprised I went back so soon.
But to me, The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice isn’t just the place where my wife passed away. It is the place where we lived, loved, and gave each other everything right until the end.
As I drove into the car park, I felt a smile grow. The happy memories of the time together we had been given by the whole team in the building flooded back to me. This feeling remains with me to this day.
As I walked along the building towards the main door, I ran my hand across the bricks.
And I felt it again.
The love. The compassion. The empathy. The life.
When I entered, I was surrounded with hugs and warmth, and overwhelmingly welcomed.
They hadn’t forgotten me.
They were still there for me in my time of need.
A Realisation and a Response
I was really surprised to learn that The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice only receives around 25% of its funding from the National Health Service.
With everything they had given us, that stayed with me.
And I knew I was determined to give something back. To do my very small part to help bridge that funding gap.
It is crucial that The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice continues to be supported so it can continue to give life to families and provide the highest quality of dignity and care, just as it did for Michele, our family, and countless other families like ours.
Some Final Thoughts
If I can give you one bit of advice, if you ever visit the cafe, try the trio of sorbet and the homemade tablet.
Michele ate that sorbet every single day. Actually, twice a day. She loved it.
And maybe, run your hands across the bricks as you walk in.
You might just feel what I feel when I run my hand across them.
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