Last Wednesday, a memorial service was held in the chapel at Mildmay Mission Hospital to honour the life and legacy of Dr. Veronica Moss, our Medical Director from 1986 to 2008.
Family, friends, and many former and current Mildmay colleagues gathered to remember a remarkable woman whose vision, compassion, and unwavering dedication changed the lives of countless individuals around the world.
The service, led by our Chair of Trustees, the Very Revd John Richardson and facilitated by our chaplain, Sister Bernie, included prayers, hymns, heartfelt eulogies, and tributes. In a moving moment, a memorial candle was lit by Veronica’s sister, Solveig, symbolising her lasting light in our memories. After the service, we shared refreshments and stories, as our CEO, Geoff Coleman, led a tour of the hospital for some of our guests.
Veronica joined Mildmay at a crucial time in 1986, after being invited by Helen Taylor-Thompson to help reopen the hospital, which had been scheduled for closure in 1982. Her role as Medical Director saw her lead Europe’s first hospice programme specifically designed for AIDS patients, opening Mildmay’s first ward in 1988. These early days were met with opposition and ignorance about HIV, with staff and patients facing prejudice and hostility. But Veronica’s steadfast leadership and resilience helped Mildmay become a vital centre of compassionate AIDS care.
With an increasing number of patients from Africa, Veronica and her team raised funds to travel to Uganda, Kenya, and Zimbabwe, gaining essential cultural insights that helped enhance patient care. This outreach extended beyond the UK when Mildmay received an invitation from the Ugandan government to open a treatment and training centre there in 1993. Over the years, Veronica led Mildmay’s expansion into Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, and even Ukraine, teaching and training health workers in HIV treatment and care.
Veronica retired in 2008 but continued to advocate, educate, and speak on the HIV epidemic’s impact. Her legacy is inseparable from Mildmay’s ongoing mission, and her contributions resonate today in our continued work for people affected by HIV and related illnesses. We give thanks for Veronica Moss's life and service, and her legacy will remain an enduring inspiration for all who work with and support Mildmay.
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