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Nurses Roll the Dice for Guildford Charity Funds
31 May
Summary
- Two nurses participated in a 300-year-old Guildford dice ceremony.
- The event determines the distribution of charitable funds from historical benefactors.
- The tradition now honors individuals providing care within the community.
A centuries-old Guildford tradition, the Poyle Dicing Ceremony, saw two nurses take part in a unique ritual. Anne Hope and Jenny Watkins participated in the event, which dates back over 300 years. This ceremony is instrumental in distributing charitable funds generated from bequests by historical benefactors John How and John Parsons.
Originally, the event recognized a 'maid of good report working in Guildford.' However, it has evolved to celebrate individuals providing essential care within the community. Hope, a lead nurse at Royal Surrey County Hospital's cancer center, and Watkins, who leads the hospital's safeguarding adult team, were chosen for this year's ceremony.
During the formal proceedings, the pair rolled dice in an ornate setting. Interestingly, the participant who loses the dice throw receives a slightly larger sum of money. Both nurses were officially declared 'Maids of Guildford,' with Watkins celebrating her 50th year in the NHS, a milestone recognized by Hope.
