Local farmer Philip Trim has donated £8,800 to University Hospitals Dorset’s Radiotherapy department in memory of his late wife, Jane – a deeply personal gift that honours both her legacy and the care she received at Poole Hospital.
Jane, described by Philip as a ‘hardworking cattle girl’, was well known on the agricultural show circuit for exhibiting her award-winning Charolais cattle. With deep roots in the community – her father was the GP in Corfe Castle – Jane insisted on using the NHS throughout her lung cancer treatment. The couple were profoundly grateful for the compassion and dedication shown to them by the hospital team. Jane passed away in 2018.
No marathons
‘Our son, Ben, and I wanted to do something to give back,’ Philip said. ‘The team pulled out all the stops for Jane and we wanted them to recognise that we appreciated everything they had done for her. We wanted other families to benefit like we did.’
This latest donation adds to a remarkable total of more than £80,000 raised by Philip, his family and their business, Philip Trim Contractors, over the years. Fundraising began on Jane’s birthday the year after she died, when the family held a tractor run. The farm opens a seasonal campsite each August, and the family also raise money by offering educational tractor and trailer rides around the farm to their campers.
Dorset Past Finders, a local metal detecting group, has also supported the cause.
‘People have been so generous,’ Philip said. ‘I’m past running marathons – but I’ve got a farm, a campsite and a community, and we’re using them to give something back.’
David Frost, head of radiotherapy at UHD, praised the Trim family’s enduring support. UHD’s Hayley Harris added: ‘This donation will make a real difference. Jane’s story continues to touch lives through the generosity of her family and their remarkable fundraising work.’
The donation will directly enhance the radiotherapy services at Poole Hospital, providing comfort and cutting-edge care beyond what standard NHS funding can cover, to patients undergoing treatment.
Sponsored by Wessex Internet
