Memories of Moya Cole: Liz Waring and Kathy Edwards

Liz Waring (above, left) and Kathy Edwards both began working for St Ann’s in the 1980s, when the Chair of the organisation was co-founder of the hospice, Dr Moya Cole.

Liz and Kathy remember Moya as a well-respected, gentle woman.

“She was a trailblazer,” Liz said. “Everything about her, she was a woman who was well respected and knew the importance of her work.”

Kathy (above, left) says she remembers Moya as a petite woman and an inspiration.

“She’s at the forefront of so many of our memories, I remember when Princess Diana visited Heald Green and Moya was there to greet her, and to show her around our facility. It was a proud day,” Kathy said.

Liz says she believes that Moya would be proud of where the hospice is now.

Moya was born in County Cavan, Ireland in 1918 and graduated with a physics degree from Queen’s University Belfast in 1939, and went on to achieve an MSc a year later. This is in no doubt a huge feat for anyone, but even more impressive for a woman over 85 years ago.

In 1950 she moved to Manchester and worked at what was then the Christie Hospital and Holt Radium Institute, becoming a consultant in Radiotherapy and Oncology in 1955 and working there until 1983.

During this time, Moya understood the need for a hospice in Greater Manchester. It was in 1967 that Moya and the then Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Rev Dr William Greer, had the idea for a hospice for the people of Greater Manchester. Together, they worked for 18 months to win over businesses and the public to their cause.

Their efforts were successful and St Ann’s Hospice opened its doors in Heald Green in 1971. She spent many years working for St Ann’s and on the board committee. She died in 2004.