THE founder of a vital Taunton charity has been awarded a BEM.
Barrie Palmer BEM was a Police officer in Taunton and Bridgwater for 32 years and launched the Somerset Unit for Radiotherapy Equipment (SURE) in 2000.
He was on this year’s Queens Birthday Honours List for his services to cancer treatment.
“I am immensely grateful for this award but it is for all of the past and present members of the committee and supporters,” he said.
“I just came up with the idea and did what I could to make it happen and they do the rest.”
When Mr Palmer retired in 2002, he trained as a professional actor at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
This led him to perform with the Royal Shakespeare Company and on the West End.
Howard Wander, an amateur actor and friend of Mr Palmers, would travel to Bristol for cancer treatment every day. And so, Mr Palmer decided a centre was needed in Somerset.
“I launched SURE in September 2000 with a variety show at Queens College entitled, Absent Friends, for Howard sadly lost his fight against cancer as did two other good friends who were also local actors,” he added.
“On that night we raised £5136. I then ran the Charity on my own for a number of years, travelling Somerset to get the word out about what I was trying to do - build a unit in Taunton.
“After a great deal of hard work and negotiations with the NHS and others, it was eventually decided Taunton would indeed be a good place for a cancer centre. A committee of SURE was formed.
“We have had and still have a very hard working group of people who ensure that funds keep coming in and we can provide amazing equipment for the treatment of patients in Somerset.
“Our centre, it was decided, would be built under a Private Finance Initiative and the Beacon Centre at Musgrove Park Hospital opened in 2009.
“SURE has provided some state of the art equipment, including a CT simulator, which was replaced the year before last, as they don't last forever.
“And like all computers, they get better all the time.
“Many other pieces of equipment and software has been provided, which enabled the Beacon to become a National Centre of Excellence.
“To date, SURE has raised more than £3.5million.”
The current chairman of SURE is Paul Alway.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel