A BELOVED hospital volunteer has sadly died after nearly 50 years of helping patients and their families.

Pearl Naylor MBE, from Thorpe Bay, died on Friday aged 95 at Fair Havens Hospice where she had helped others for the past 37 years.

A widow, Ms Naylor is survived by a daughter, Anita, four grandsons, plus four great-grandchildren. She was able to cuddle the latest, Stella Pearl, born in August, days before her passing.

Known for her remarkable energy, she was a regular fixture in the hospital’s information office at the old main entrance, where she would regularly escort patients half her age to their appointments.

Fed up with shielding during lockdown, in June the veteran volunteer had even staged a Major Tom style fundraiser for Fair Havens, walking 26 times round her garden and donating £100 to the hospice.

Ms Naylor began her volunteering career at the Rochford Hospital site in February 1974.

She also spent a lot of time on the old stroke day care unit at the now defunct Balmoral Hospital.

When services from Rochford Hospital were brought over to Southend in the mid-1990s, Ms Naylor suggested creating an information desk to help people find their way around the new buildings.

She's been helping out on that desk, in the old main entrance to the hospital, ever since.

Ms Naylor received an MBE in 2012 for services to the hospital and hospice, receiving her medal from Prince Charles.

In 2009 she received a Badge of Honour given by the League of Mercy charity, as well as Hospital Honours, a special award given by Southend Hospital. In 2014 she received a Lifetime Award from the hospital.

Her daughter Anita Philpott said: "My mum always enjoyed chatting to people and helping out if she could. She knew her way around the hospital better than anyone.

"She really loved the friends she made when working at the hospital and hospice.

“Mum died at Fair Havens, a fitting place to end her life, we all thought. She was 95 and had led a good life. She had been a little unwell for just two months but realised it was more serious just three weeks before she died.

“She was so happy to be at Fair Havens, surrounded by nurses she knew, who wanted to care for her, as well as with her loving family. She simply drifted away.

“She said when she went into the hospice 'I am ready to go now'. We, of course, were not ready to see her go, she will be missed by many people.”

Jane O'Connell, voluntary services lead at Mid and South Essex Hospitals Trust, said: “Everyone knew and loved Pearl and we are devastated by her loss. She was a massive asset to this hospital and will be sorely missed.

“She was old-school - always immaculately turned out, unfailingly courteous, kind and informative. She really cared. We were very lucky to have her."