A legacy in colour: Thanet artist donates his life’s work to Pilgrims Hospices
Local artist Carl Stafford has pledged to leave his entire collection of paintings to Pilgrims Hospices in his Will, creating a lasting legacy that will help support This is Hospice Care for people across east Kent.
When we visited Carl at his gallery-style home in Ramsgate, every wall was alive with colour and surrealist imagination.
Speaking in his gentle Brummy accent, the 61-year-old father of two daughters and grandfather of five shared how his lifelong passion for art – and his personal experience of hospice care – inspired his decision.
Carl’s father was cared for by a hospice many years ago, and the experience has stayed with him.
“The care was just exemplary,” Carl recalls.
“Nothing was too much trouble, and they made the end of his life comfortable and free from pain. They even organised a wedding for him and his long-term partner, which made the end of his life so special for him and those closest to him.
That sparked something within me that made me realise supporting special places such as hospices was really important. This is Hospice Care at its very best.”
Carl’s art is full of expression and dreamlike imagery, influenced by Salvador Dalí, René Magritte and Max Ernst, among others. Through his legacy, he hopes his creative life’s work will help future generations to experience the same compassion, dignity and support that meant so much to his family.
“I’m a very positive person, and by making this legacy, I hope it will help many people in the future to take comfort and support from Pilgrims Hospices,” he said. “I’ve always been inspired by my father, who was a very fine artist. I still treasure a painting he created for me back in the 1970s. I take great pleasure in the thought that my own work will live on and continue to make a difference.”
Carl also draws inspiration from his local area. Living close to where Vincent Van Gogh once stayed and worked in Ramsgate gives him a special connection to art history and his community.
By choosing to leave his body of work to Pilgrims Hospices, Carl is ensuring that his love of art will continue to support others, helping protect the future of hospice care for generations to come.
Securing hospice care for future generations
Pilgrims Hospices care for an estimated 30% of the people who die in east Kent each year, providing free, specialist end-of-life care in their inpatient units in Canterbury, Thanet and Ashford, as well as in people’s own homes. This compassionate, holistic support for patients and families is what hospice care truly means.
Ellie Cane, Individual Giving Manager at Pilgrims Hospices, said:
“We’re so grateful to Carl for his incredible generosity. Every gift in a Will, large or small, helps us to be there for patients and families when they need us most. Carl’s story shows the very special ways people can leave a legacy of care for their community, protecting hospice care for future generations.”
Make a Will. Make a difference.
By leaving a gift in your Will to Pilgrims Hospices, you can make sure hospice care remains available for families across east Kent, now and in the future.
Find out more about leaving a gift in your Will to Pilgrims Hospices.
