A well respected doctor has this week been bestowed the Freedom of the Isle of Wight in recognition of his efforts in establishing the Island’s first hospice.
Dr Desmond Murphy was put forward for the unique honour by Cllr Michael Murwill earlier this year and it was at a ceremony at County Hall last night (Wednesday) that Dr Murphy was handed the Freedom by Chair of the Isle of Wight Council, Cllr Lora Peacey-Wilcox.
Earl Mountbatten Hospice was launched in 1982 and respiratory consultant physician Dr Murphy was appointed as clinical lead. He had moved to the Island 12 months beforehand. Over the years he has overseen the development of the hospice into the organisation it has become today, Mountbatten IW.
Only a select few people have been handed the Freedom of the Isle of Wight including Dame Ellen MacArthur, Christopher Bland, Mary Ellis and Anthony Minghella.
I hope he does just as good a job getting rid of the Daleks. Bloody things keep having my bins over .