A tribute to Alex Miles: “Pilgrims go above and beyond”
Alex Miles from Folkestone was a family man; a devoted husband to Ruth and father to Millie, Jake, Mason, Layla and Bailey, he served as a sergeant in Kent Police and played football for Folkestone Invicta FC.
In 2019, Alex, then aged 44, was diagnosed with lung cancer, which had spread to his bones. He began treatment and, with his condition managed, was able to live relatively well and even continue working.
But in 2024, Alex suffered two strokes, after which he was admitted to Pilgrims Hospices for end-of-life care.
Alex died at the Ashford hospice in September 2024, aged 49.
Alex and Ruth with family on their wedding dayAlex with his son, Bailey
Ruth shares how Pilgrims helped their family to make the most of their precious final moments with Alex, and supported them in their grief after his death:
“Alex was transferred from hospital; after the second stroke, he wasn’t really conscious, but Pilgrims made him comfortable – it was noticeable as soon as he got to the hospice.
“As a family, we had such a positive experience of Pilgrims’ care. Alex was only in the hospice for a few days, and although it was never going to be easy, it was as comforting as it could possibly have been. We had a family room, so a few of us could sleep in there with Alex. Friends and family could visit any time to say their goodbyes.
“I was breastfeeding our youngest child, Bailey, who was just five months old at the time. The kind nurses and staff were so supportive – they made us countless cups of tea and toast, took Bailey for walks and played with him to give us a break, answered our questions, held our hands and simply listened. They even shared their own stories with us; we learned that so many of them have personal experiences of hospice care, which is what inspired them to work for Pilgrims. They did all this whilst keeping Alex comfortable; they really do go above and beyond.”
“After Alex died, myself and one of Alex’s older children were offered bereavement counselling; we really appreciated that continuity of care. I also had massages from the complementary therapy team, which were lovely.
“I can’t fault Pilgrims, they’re fantastic.”
In April 2025, Alex’s family launched the inaugural Miles Memorial Cup – a football match in honour of Alex to celebrate his life, which they plan to make an annual event. On 18 April 2026, the match was held in aid of Pilgrims, raising £4,000 for local hospice care.
Ruth said:
“We wanted to give back to those that helped us on Alex’s journey; Pilgrims were able to offer the specialist, compassionate care that Alex needed at the end of his life, when no one else could. If our fundraising helps just one other family to have that same support and peace, it will mean so much to us. We’re lucky to have such brilliant hospice care in the UK, but it is only available thanks to peoples’ generous support and donations – that’s why it’s so important for us to fundraise for Pilgrims.
“Any opportunity to talk about Alex and have other people remember him, I’ll take it, because he deserves that. It’s very comforting for me. Although Alex’s life was cut short, this is how we can keep his memory alive.”
Alex Miles With His Wife Ruth
Alex Miles With Family
Alex And Ruth Miles With Their Children Mason, Layla And Bailey
Alex Miles With His Children L R Jake, Mason, Millie And Layla
Alex Miles With His Children Mason And Layla
Top Alex Miles With His Sister Nicola And His Uncle
Follow @milesmemorialcup on Instagram for news and updates about the annual Miles Memorial Cup.
Pilgrims Hospices provides compassionate, specialist care free of charge to thousands of people in east Kent each year who are living with life-limiting conditions. Support is offered in patients’ homes, in the community, and at our three hospice sites in Canterbury, Thanet and Ashford. We also run a 24-hour advice line.
Volunteers’ Week (1–7 June 2026) is a national celebration of the people who give their time, skills and experience to support charities and communities across the UK.
At Pilgrims Hospices, we are proud to recognise not only our volunteers across all our services and shops, but also the dedicated trustees who play a vital role in guiding our charity.
Our trustees are unpaid volunteers who share their time, expertise and leadership to help ensure Pilgrims Hospices can continue to provide compassionate end‑of‑life care across east Kent. They are responsible for the charity’s strategic direction, governance and long‑term sustainability, working alongside our Executive Team to uphold our values and make sure every decision keeps patients and families at the heart of what we do.
Trustees bring a wide range of professional skills, lived experience and personal commitment. As volunteers, they give their time freely to attend meetings, provide challenge and oversight, and support Pilgrims Hospices to remain strong, financially secure and responsive to the needs of our community.
During Volunteers’ Week, we want to say thank you to all our trustees – past and present – for their dedication, governance expertise and unwavering support. Their contribution often happens behind the scenes, but it makes a lasting difference to the care we can provide every day.
Interested in becoming a Volunteer Trustee?
As a trustee with Pilgrims Hospices, you will be responsible for protecting and enhancing our charity’s reputation, whilst also ensuring all service users receive the best possible support at the time they need it the most.
You will provide an invaluable service to your community. You will use your experience to guide the strategic direction of one of the most respected healthcare charities in the country, and be accountable for its delivery in the future.
We are looking to strengthen our Board with a mix of skills and experience and would welcome applications from a range of experiences.
We believe our Board should be truly representative and inclusive of the communities we serve; we welcome applicants of all abilities and backgrounds, and positively encourage applications from under-represented communities, particularly applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) and disabled candidates. We are committed to equality and diversity across the charity, including the Board of Trustees.
Whatever your professional background, duty of care will be at the heart of everything you do, and you will be committed to upholding our service standards to the highest level.
Volunteers’ Week celebrates the amazing contributions volunteers make to communities across the UK. The celebration starts on the first Monday in June every year. It’s a chance to recognise, celebrate and thank the UK’s incredible volunteers for all they contribute to our local communities, the voluntary sector, and society as a whole.
Pilgrims Hospices is a charity dedicated to providing expert care and support to patients with life-limiting illnesses in east Kent. Our services ensure comfort, dignity, and quality of life for patients and their families, offering compassionate care both in hospice settings and in the community.
