Hospice Volunteers receive Knighthoods

Mick Pocock, aged 77 from Cambridge, and Graham Hambling, aged 75 from Stapleford, are both Volunteer Gardeners at Arthur Rank Hospice Charity.

In March 2025 they were awarded a Knighthood into the Knight of the Order of St George the Martyr for their charitable contributions to the Charity and to the Police Service.

Mick was a Special Constable in the Cambridge City Division for ten years as a Voluntary Policeman. He worked at Girton College for 38 years and retired over ten years ago at the age of 67. At that time he joined Arthur Rank Hospice Charity as a volunteer gardener and said ‘it’s one of the best things he’s ever done since his retirement’.

Mick and Graham, who met when they were working at Girton College, both planted hundreds of plants to the ‘blank canvas’ when the Hospice moved from Mill Road to Shelford Bottom in 2016. They were honoured to meet Prince Edward when he officially opened the Hospice in 2018.

Mick shared that ‘he likes to offer something back to society and to people who need our support’. He donated 14 bird tables so that patients in the Inpatient Unit could see the birds from their window or French doors. He mentioned that he too gets something back as a volunteer – contentment, friendship and companionship.

Mick also volunteers to collect charity tins for the Hospice. He’s a member of the University Hawks Club FDC (Hawks Club Fine Dining Club) at Cambridge University and sits on the Town FA Executive Committee for the Football League, has been a Football Referee for Cambs FA for over ten years, has been a member on the Executive Committee for the Cambridge Sunday Football League for many years and has sponsored the final for over 15 years and ‘has enjoyed every moment of it’.

Along with volunteering as a gardener at Arthur Rank Hospice, Graham is the Chairman for the Cactus and Succulents’ Society in Cambridge. He is a fond gardener and gives his donations to the Charity when he opens his own garden to the public. Graham shared:

“We are always pleased to see people outside at the Hospice. Sometimes patients can get out into the garden and they are interested in what we’re doing too.”

Mick and Graham both attended an esteemed service at Great St Mary’s Church in Cambridge where they were given their own gowns and mantles as they were Knighted into the Order of St George the Martyr. They were very honoured to be invited to an audience with [the now late] Pope Francis in Rome.

Mick commented:

“I never could have imagined in all my years that I would receive a Knighthood.”

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Members of the public are welcome to visit the gardens at the Hospice at one of their Open Days or by visiting the Bistro or joining in on an activity at Arthur’s Shed.