The life of Swanage resident Sue Whitton and her amazing contribution to the local community as a nurse, volunteer, and prolific cake maker, is to be celebrated, after her sad and sudden death at the age of 82.
All those who knew Sue, or Sister Sue as she was often referred to, are being invited by her family to a celebration of her life from 12 noon for 12.30 pm on Monday 10th March 2025 at the Springfield Country Hotel in Stoborough, Dorset.
Sue Whitton was born in Devizes, Wiltshire in 1943 and died at Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester on Saturday 15th February 2025
Swanage minor injuries unit named after Sue Whitton
While Sue was widely known in recent times for providing the most impressive refreshments at Swanage and Purbeck Rotary events like the summer fair, she will be remembered by many for her life long work as a senior nurse at Swanage Hospital.
She was especially valued for her role working in Swanage Hospital’s minor injuries unit, providing care and compassion for many hundreds, if not thousands of people including lots of grateful parents after their child’s latest calamity. When she retired in 2007, she was so synonymous with the minor injuries unit that it was named after her!
Sue moved to Swanage in 1977 with her husband Dave and their three young sons Jerry, Steve and Paul. Dave had been offered a job as a physiotherapist in Swanage, while Sue, a qualified nurse, started working as a staff nurse on nights at Swanage Hospital.
A young Sue (second from left) with collegues at Swanage Hospital
Lived in Canada
Sue and Dave had met while Sue was training to be a nurse at the Bath Eye Hospital in Somerset. Dave had been a physical training instructor in the army and then became a remedial gymnast, helping people to rehabilitate after injury.
He went to Canada to work where he made artificial limbs but missed Sue so much that he asked her to marry him, coming home for their wedding in 1964 which Sue had arranged.
They went back to Canada together, and this was where Jerry was born in 1966. However they soon returned to the UK with Steve born in 1967 and Paul in 1969.
Sister Sue (left) with Swanage Hospital manager Maggie Hardy (right)
Moved to Swanage
In 1977 the family relocated from Trowbridge in Wiltshire to Swanage, living in Queen’s Road just a stone’s throw from the hospital.
Sue ‘s career progressed and she became one of the senior Sisters working across all areas of the hospital excelling in what was then named the casualty department. She would often deputise for the then Matron Dorothy Felton.
In the early 1990s there was a review of community hospitals in Dorset and Swanage Hospital was perceived to be under threat. The hospital team, including Sue, leapt to its defence, greatly increasing the number of services at the hospital and making significant improvements.
In 1995 it was the centenary of the hospital and an appeal was launched with Sue an active member of the fundraising committee.
There were other developments with the introduction of the pioneering out-of-hours telephone service for the Swanage Medical Practice, with Sue as the clinical lead. This received national and international acclaim with Sue travelling to Australia with colleague Elaine Taylor to promote the service at the Nurse Practitioner Conference.
After her retirement she continued her association with the hospital, as an active member of the Friends of Swanage Hospital, raising money by selling her famous homemade cakes, jams and pickles.
Sue (right) receiving a lifetime achievement award in January 2024 from Swanage town mayor Tina Foster (left)
Oldest vaccinator at 80
Her work as a nurse was to be unexpectedly resumed during the Covid pandemic, when she volunteered to undertake vaccinations at Wareham Hospital in 2021. Sue was still vaccinating on her 80th birthday gaining much recognition as the oldest vaccinator and a much loved member of the team.
Sue joined Swanage and Purbeck Rotary in 2006, raising significant amounts of money for international causes like End Polio Now and the emergency relief charity Shelterbox. In 2010, she was awarded the Rotary Paul Harris Fellowship for her community work.
Other volunteering included providing catering for the Swanage Jazz Festival and the RNLI, as well as working in the RNLI shop. Sue also did the catering for the Queen’s Silver and Platinum Jubilee street party celebrations in Swanage, preparing with her team, hundreds of lunch boxes.
Sue was recognised in January 2024 by Swanage Town Council for her incredible lifetime achievements, receiving her award from Swanage town mayor Tina Foster.
Long time friend and collegue Maggie Hardy (left) with Sue (right) in 2023 at Swanage and Purbeck Rotary summer fair
“Immense energy, enthusiasm, Christmas cakes and puddings, kindness, hospitality and generosity”
President of Swanage and Purbeck Rotary, and former work colleague Maggie Hardy said:
“I first met Sue when she moved to Swanage with her family and I’m proud to say that we have been friends for 47 years!
“We became nursing colleagues at Swanage Hospital when we both held Sister posts at the hospital and from 1992 when I became the Swanage Hospital Manager, I relied on Sue to help me modernise the hospital, increase the range of services it provided and upgrade the Victorian hospital to modern day environmental standards.
“Sue was a great ‘ideas ‘ person and I’m delighted to say that with the hospital team we were able to achieve complete transformation in almost all areas of the hospital .
“Developing strong relationships was important to achieve this and Sue became affectionately known as ‘Mother’ to many of the staff for her caring, kind and supportive approach.
“Her no nonsense attitude and common sense and direct way of doing things was greatly valued with no one wishing or even daring to challenge her! Even the local GPs on occasions!
“As her manager, I did have that task on occasions which although difficult did I think actually increase mutual respect for each other.
“Sue continued to be a very active member of Rotary right until the end of her life and will be fondly remembered by all members for her immense energy, enthusiasm, Christmas cakes and puddings, kindness, hospitality and generosity.”
Sue (right) doyenne of the tea tent, with fellow Rotarian Mary Pike (left) and Beate Willey (background) at the Rotary summer fete in 2023
“Wicked sense of humour!”
Another friend and colleague, Maxine Ford said:
“Having known Sue for more than 40 years since I moved to Swanage to work with Dave in the physiotherapy department at Swanage Hospital, she has been much more than a friend, she has been my family.
“Sue was the type of person who was there for all her friends, during the best times of their lives and also during the more challenging, always there with wisdom, support and love – and, when needed, with her wicked sense of humour!
“We’re all so proud of all Sue’s wonderful achievements, and so thankful that we shared so much fun, laughter and a few tears together along the way.
“Like many others, I adored Sue and am heartbroken to have lost such a wonderful friend. She has touched so many lives during her amazing 82 years, and I am incredibly privileged that one of them was mine. We are going to miss her so very much.”
Sue with husband Dave on the Rotary stall and an array of goodies at the Harman’s Cross fete in August 2023
“You never left the Whitton house hungry!”
While Sue was known as a great friend to many, she was also a mother, wife, grandmother and great-grandmother.
In a statement, her family said:
“What a truly remarkable and selfless person mum was, with a huge heart that had room for everyone. We are extremely proud of and so privileged that she was our mum. She gave so much love and was loved by so many.
“She was a second mum to many others. Our family home was always open to our friends and there are so many people who would consider mum as their second mum. Mum was a feeder and you never left the Whitton house hungry!
“Mum always had such a fantastic way with people regardless of the situation. This meant she built many strong, lifelong friendships and was such an important person to so many. She was someone you could always depend on regardless of the ask.
“She would want us all to now get on with things and live our best lives. She would say worry about things you can do something about and then get on with it and don’t worry about the things you cannot change.
“Dad and us and other close family were able to be with mum when she died, hold her hand and tell her how much she meant to us and how much she was loved by us all and to say thank you. We will always treasure those moments. She also told us off for whispering and was also concerned that someone was not at home to collect her online shopping delivery due that day!
“Although mum is no longer with us in person she will remain in our hearts for always. Our huge loss as a family is shared by so many others, along with the great privilege of having her as part of our lives.”
Sue (left) with Mary Pike (right) raising money for Ukraine with their refreshments during the Swanage Blues Festival in 2022
Further information
- Celebration of Sue Whitton’s life to be held at The Springfield Country Hotel, Grange Road, Stoborough BH20 5AL on Monday 10th March 2025 at 12 noon for 12.30 pm
- This will be preceded by a very short cremation service at Poole Crematorium at 11 am
- Family flowers only. Donations in Sue’s memory in lieu of flowers to The Friends of Swanage Hospital and Swanage and Purbeck Rotary via James Smith funeral directors
- As Sue would say: “Wear what you like!”
