Tag Archives: Rautomead

First Chairman of PATCH retires

Posted: 24 March, 2021

Sir Michael Nairn retires as PATCH's chairman after seven years of outstanding leadership and growth.

Sir Michael Nairn, who is Chairman of Rautomead Limited, Dundee, retired as PATCH’s first Chairman on 1st January 2021 after more than seven years. He successfully guided PATCH from its beginning in Tayside in 2013. However, his commitment to palliative care extends even further.   

In 2009, a three-bed Acute Palliative Care Unit, funded by public donations, opened in Ninewells Hospital in Dundee. In 2011 two members of the Acute Palliative Care Unit Trust were invited to Rautomead to meet Sir Michael & Mr Brian Frame, Managing Director and left with a £35,000 donation. The staff of Rautomead have remained wonderfully generous supporters ever since. 

What made Michael’s Chairmanship so successful? 

Above all, he has a passion for palliative care. He brought out the best in the Board and valued everyone’s contribution, writing hundreds of personal thank you letters to our many helpers. 

He was willing to travel to PATCH events, however remote, whatever the time of year and whatever the weather.  

His international business experience ensured that our financial record keeping was meticulous and our documentation consistently accurate and professional.

He established some remarkable and long lasting connections for PATCH; for example with the Highland Cattle Society. Both Sir Michael and Lady Sally Nairn are prominent exhibitors at Cattle Shows. The PATCH trophy, an exquisite sculpture created by Lady Sally for the best Highlander in the National Show, continues to be awarded every second year. 

The 2017 Balnabroich Show in Perthshire, involved 55 Highlanders from all over the country, a ceilidh, fish and chips, a hog roast, a remarkable auction and many new friends of PATCH. It raised over £50,000! 

PATCH’s fond friendship with the Highland Cattle Society remains strong.

Mr Mike Lavelle Jones, President of the RCSE and Sir Michael agreeing on the Dundas Medal.

From Cattle Shows to Colleges – a strong collaboration with the Royal College of Surgeons resulted in the Dundas Medal, an annual award to any team or individual who made a valuable contribution to palliative care in their hospital.

During Sir Michael’s Chairmanship, PATCH raised £300,000 and funded 32 research, education and innovation initiatives including the first PATCH nurse in Scotland.

The importance of good end of life care has been clearly demonstrated to us during the pandemic and Sir Michael’s inspired leadership has helped us towards realising this dream for patients and their families. A deep felt thank you to Sir Michael from all at PATCH.

Team Rautomead raises £750 for PATCH at the Great North Run

Posted: 10 October, 2018

Another incredible fundraising effort from Team Rautomead, who have worked so hard at fundraising for PATCH over the years.

Marc Moir, husband of Nicky Moir at Rautomead Limited in Dundee, ran the Great North run on Sunday 9th September on behalf of PATCH and Macmillan. £750 was donated to PATCH – a tremendous achievement.

Pamela Levack, Medical Director of PATCH, commented:

The contribution to palliative care made by charities is huge. The most recent project that this money will go to is a mandatory communications course in Tayside for final year Dundee Medical students.

Everyone starting as a doctor should have the basic skill of knowing how to speak [and listen to] patients who are very ill, and their families.

Once more a big thank you to Rautomead who have so given so generously towards the cause of palliative care for patients in hospital over many years. Their imagination for fund raising has no bound.

Rautomead raise over £5k at Kiltwalk 2017

Posted: 24 November, 2017

After an incredible day at the RBS Dundee Kiltwalk, Rautomead walkers raised £5,432 for PATCH.

On 19th August 2017, four intrepid walkers from Rautomead Ltd in Dundee, took part in the walk from St Andrews to Carnoustie. Over 1500 people in total took part over 3 different distance walks.

They raised the fantastic sum of £3,880 which, when added to the 40% top up from the Hunter Foundation, raised a total of £5,432.

From left to right: Graham Wood, Tracy Anderson, Brian Frame, Nicola Moir.

It was a wonderful achievement and yet another contribution from Rautomead who have been generous supporters of PATCH, and the Ninewells Acute Palliative Care Unit in its early days, which was the inspiration for the charity.

Thank you heroes and heroines – note the kilts!

Rautomead smash their previous year’s record, with another generous donation

Posted: 22 December, 2016

Rautomead's outstanding fundraising efforts have resulted in a £1,845 donation to PATCH. This follows last year's generous donation of £1200.

Rautomead Limited, based in Dundee, has once again shown its continued and unstinting support for PATCH with a wonderful donation of £1,845 which was presented to the charity’s Trudy McLeay and Mary Mackenzie last week. The funds were raised from an in house ‘tuck shop’ with baking and goodies produced and sold by staff, as well as sales of PATCH Christmas cards.

Last year Rautomead raised £1200 from the tuck shop and this year they excelled themselves beating a target of £1500, and we are delighted! One of the very first supporters of PATCH, through its initial and generous support of the Ninewells Acute Palliative Care Unit in Dundee, Rautomead continues to show its fabulous support for the work of the charity.

On behalf of PATCH we would like to once again thank Rautomead for everything they have done with such generous spirit.