Nicola and Sybil Tucker in the Stars Appeal Bookshop Picture: Spencer Mulholland

‘I want to do this for as long as I can’ Stars Appeal volunteer celebrates 100th birthday

Tait ap EllisAugust 21, 20250 Comment0

A VERY special celebration was put on for a Stars Appeal volunteer who just turned 100.

Sybil Tucker has been supporting Salisbury Hospital’s Charity for over 20 years and still regularly volunteers in the Stars Appeal Bookshop in the hospital’s main entrance with her daughter Nicola.

She has raised £65,350 in her 20-year involvement with the charity.

Following her morning shift at the bookshop, Sybil was joined by her fellow volunteers to mark the special milestone birthday with tea and cake.

“I can’t really believe I am 100. I want to keep going and supporting the Stars Appeal for as long as I can,” Sybil said.

Sybil and Nicola first got involved with the Stars Appeal, Salisbury District Hospital’s charity, in 2003 during its Ace of Hearts campaign to raise £1 million to build a purpose-built cardiac suite.

It was a cause close to the family, as Sybil’s brother had a heart problem.

Sybil’s 100th birthday celebrations at the Stars Appeal Picture: Spencer Mulholland

The pair, who live in Nunton, started off running a table stall selling books and up until 2020 ran a monthly book, bric-a-brac, and toy stall at the hospital.

Money raised by Sybil and Nicola has contributed to a wide range of Stars Appeal projects over the years, including the children’s unit, cardiac suite, breast unit, the second MRI and CT scanners, and neonatal family unit.

Her daughter Nicola said: “We enjoy volunteering and get to meet so many lovely people. We know all the money we help raise goes to supporting our local hospital and all the people who use it.”

Picture: Spencer Mulholland

Sybil, who was a cook in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force in Farnborough during the Second World War, and Nicola have a room in the Stars Appeal breast unit named after them in recognition of their fundraising efforts.

Dave Cates, of the Stars Appeal, said: “We feel honoured to be celebrating Sybil’s 100th birthday and we are so grateful for the huge amount of support Sybil, along with her daughter Nicola, has given us over the last 22 years, which has made such a difference to the lives of thousands of local patients and their families.”