Cheryl honoured as first recipient of Lasalle Award

Cheryl receives her award from Br. Ben Hanlon

A special presentation was made to Cheryl Ward in recognition of her wonderful contribution to the De La Salle Brothers as manager of the Clayton Court Community for 25 years.

At a function in St John’s House, St Helens, on Saturday July 2nd, Cheryl was honoured for going above and beyond the call of duty in the care of Brothers. Not only did she provide outstanding managerial and medical skills to so many, but her calm support, gentle kindness and understanding ensured the best possible care.

As a result, Cheryl became the first recipient of the Lasalle Star Award, initiated by the District Council and which is to be awarded to those who have shown exceptional support to the Brothers and the wider District.

In presenting the award, Brother Visitor Ben Hanlon, paid the following tribute to Cheryl for her dedication over the years: 

It is indeed an honour and a privilege to have invited to express gratitude on behalf of all the Brothers in our District, to Cheryl for her dedication, commitment and kindness to so many Brothers over the last two decades.

In the last century, in fact in the 1960’s there was no proper structure for the care of the elderly and infirm in either GB, Ireland or Malta. For the most part, communities had to make do on their own. Then in the 1970’s the various leaderships recognised this problem and in Ireland we had Miguel House while in GB, Clayton Court was bought and developed and later St John’s House was built. These centres were on the one hand an acknowledgement of the importance of providing appropriate care for elderly and infirm Brothers and also signs of our commitment to our most vulnerable. The homes were centres of great love and care and we were all rightly very proud of them.

But then with the new millennium we ushered in a new approach with the appointment of care managers in each of our three homes. Immediately this led to higher standards of care, better management of staff, new confidence among the Brothers who realised the many benefits of a professional approach. You may correct me if I am wrong but I am fairly certain Cheryl was our first manager. She was an inspired choice. She had an excellent relationship with staff getting the best out of them and this in turn benefitted the Brothers – they cared for by happy and committed carers. And of course there were also economic benefits with every aspect being treated with generosity while avoiding unnecessary waste.

Many other benefits ensued too, with the appointment of outreach nurses who have bridged the gap between the communities and the care homes; providing advice and re-assurance to Brothers and communities. Cheryl was to the forefront of this work and it led to a similar approach being adopted in Ireland with the appointment of Dolores. Then both Cheryl and Dolores visited Malta and provided great assistance and support there. The annual meeting of the three homes to compare notes, share advice and encourage one another was also something which Cheryl contributed to in a very significant way.

Homeliness and family atmosphere coupled with tremendous staff devotion and loyalty are things which  money can never buy. Cheryl grasped this sense of a Lasallian home with care at its heart and so has been powerfully instrumental in its delivery. Clayton Court was not a care centre for the Brothers it was their home where they felt welcomed, wanted cherished and loved. Cheryl you developed these enduring virtues and qualities in that community over many years. And for this we can never thank you sufficiently.

A Brother said to me recently; ‘We have been blessed in our three District Care Homes.’ Perhaps many of us don’t fully appreciate how true this is. We tend to take it all for granted. A day like today reminds each of us of the value of having on our team the best of people, professional people, capable people, people who are loving and whose interest in their work goes way beyond the expected. People for whom their work is a vocation. Cheryl you are such a person and today we not only salute you but we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your very special and indeed unique contribution to our District.

We pray you enjoy good health and happiness as you embark on a new chapter, where hopefully, you will be cared for with the same love you have lavished on OUR family.

I would like to finish with this Irish blessing:

Cheryl, May the roof above us never fall in.
And may the friends gathered below it never fall out!!

But perhaps this blessing better sums up what is in all our hearts:

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields,
And, until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

David Scarpa, who benefitted from Cheryl’s support for many years at Clayton Court, also paid tribute to Cheryl on the night.

Cheryl, your near-quarter century as manager of CC is very significant in the history of the Brothers, and, no doubt in your own personal history. That’s what we’re here to celebrate.

Thank you for bringing your outstanding managerial and medical skills to so many of us. Your calm support, gentle kindness and understanding ensured the best possible care, even if it meant persuading fiercely independent Brothers to accept that care with gratitude.

I suppose we must have seemed a very strange bunch when you first came across the De La Salle Brothers. However, you soon crossed that puzzling divide and arrived at an extraordinary understanding of our way of life. You remained sensitive to our spiritual, physical and psychological needs.

You gathered a very loyal multi-tasking staff that enabled a homely, friendly, relaxed atmosphere among Brothers and Staff. You actively encouraged members of staff to follow courses that upgraded their careers.

May I take just one out of countless examples of the way you served the Brothers over and above the call of duty? Br. Anton de Roeper, suffering from Parkinson’s disease, was having great difficulties with his speech. There were no suitable speech-therapy facilities available, so you gathered a small group with similar difficulties and very creatively held regular very successful classes at CC that were much appreciated.

You also shared your wisdom, knowledge, and experience at the Advisory Board meetings with the other managers and directors of care communities and with the St. Cassian’s management committee. Your outreach programme to many brothers throughout the District was recognised and very much appreciated. This included bringing healing, comfort and solace to Brothers in Scotland and Malta. Other religious congregations also sought your help and advice.

You ensured that our corner of the South Downs National Park, with its huge variety of plant and a wildlife remained a most beautiful and fascinating place to wander around and refresh the spirit. One couldn’t but be reminded that paradise is represented as a beautiful garden. 

And so Cheryl, there are very many Brothers whose final years benefitted so much from your gentle palliative care. And those of us that remain remember you with deep appreciation and gratitude, and will continue to thank God for you and for your family who supported your ministry with us, throughout so many years. We wish you well in your present important post in which you can continue to make good use of your many splendid qualities and talents.