The Sobell House Hospice Charity team invite you to honour a loved one with a £30 metal flower – displayed at Blenheim Palace, this May 2026.
Families are invited to remember someone special while supporting vital hospice care, as the much-loved Forever Flowers appeal returns for spring.
The campaign, run by Sobell House Hospice Charity, will see hundreds of beautiful handcrafted metal flowers displayed in the stunning grounds of Blenheim Palace this May.
Each flower represents a personal dedication – a loved one remembered, celebrated and held close in people’s hearts.
Supporters can donate £30 for a Forever Flower, adding the name of someone special to appear alongside it in the display. After the exhibition, the flower becomes a lasting keepsake to take home.
For sisters Gemma, Natalie and Georgia, dedicating a flower is a touching way to honour their mum Julie, whose final days were spent at Sobell House.
“Our mum Julie was so much fun,” they say. “She loved her family fiercely and had a rare way of making everyone feel like they belonged. She wasn’t just our mum – she was our best friend.”
Julie was known for her warmth, humour and love of family life. Fridays were “nanny days”, when she spent precious time with her grandchildren, creating memories they will treasure forever.
When Julie became unwell and was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer, her family hoped treatment would give them more time together. But after a sudden brain haemorrhage, it became clear she would need specialist end-of-life care.
Although Julie initially hoped to remain at home, the family soon realised she would be more comfortable elsewhere. She chose Sobell House – a decision that, her daughters say, brought reassurance at the most difficult time.
“From the moment she arrived, it felt different. The care and compassion Mum received meant we could simply focus on being with her.”
Small but thoughtful touches made a huge difference – from ice lollies in the sunshine to staff who were always there within minutes if needed. The welcoming rooms, gardens and family spaces helped create moments of peace during an incredibly hard time.
Now the family hopes sharing Julie’s story will encourage others to support the hospice in its 50th anniversary year.
“The care Mum received was only possible because of donations from local people,” they say.
“Forever Flowers is a beautiful way to remember someone you love while helping other families receive the same compassion we did.”
Julie’s widower Ray says: “Julie and I shared 41 years of marriage – a lifetime of family, laughter, and love. I met Julie in the pub in Blackbird Leys. We were married by the following May and welcomed our first daughter the May after.
“So May is a hard month for me, full of memories and milestones. Forever Flowers gives me a way to remember Julie and celebrate her in a way that’s as special as she was.”
To dedicate a flower or find out more, visit sobellhouse.org/flowers.
