Former patient’s quirky photo book raising money for Hayward House at City Hospital | Latest news

Quirky photos of ‘street furniture’ – abandoned sofas, fridges, bikes and cast-off shoes – are raising funds for Hayward House at City Hospital in memory of a former patient.

Neil ‘Squealy’ Hill snapped hundreds of photos during his daily stroll in areas around his home, keeping up the ritual during lockdown and after his diagnosis with terminal lung cancer in 2022. His daily Facebook postings detailing his encounters with Nottingham’s ‘street art’ gained a cult following – and inspired a coffee-table book, Street Furniture by Neil Hill, which was published by friends and presented to him before he died in August this year.

Neil, 60, was living with health conditions before his cancer diagnosis. His daily solo walks around Forest Fields, New Basford, Sherwood, and Carrington, during the pandemic, photographing things he stumbled across and sharing his thoughts on Facebook, became a way of staying connected with the world.

“Our friend Squealy was a total one-off,” says Katrin Moye, of Sherwood, who met Neil as a student at the University of Nottingham 30 years ago.

“He was as cantankerous as he was charming, sarcastic and rude as he was kind and caring, and as ‘blokey’ as anyone ever was, with an unerring eye for beauty in his immediate surroundings. He also had a very entertaining way with words – as this book shows.

“His response to his cancer diagnosis was not to retreat into depression but to put his boots on and continue his ‘socially distanced’ walks, posting the things he came across, accompanied by typically ‘Squealyish’ comments. These posts became something of a smash hit with his many friends, both from his far-flung community of online quizzers and his geographically close circle of friends of many years.”

Neil, who worked for Nottinghamshire County Council, was treated and cared for on Loxley Ward and Hayward House at City Hospital, and spent his last days at Melbourne House, Aspley, before he died.

The Hayward House Appeal will fund extra bereavement counsellors and complementary therapists; a revamp of the reception area; research and training in palliative care; and improved access to the garden for patients who are bed bound or have poor mobility.

Joanne Burr, Community and Corporate Fundraising Manager at Nottingham Hospitals Charity, said: “We are so grateful to Neil’s friends and loved ones for raising money for the Hayward House Appeal through the sale of his photo book. Neil sounds like a wonderful character, and will clearly be very missed by all who knew him.

“The money raised through the book sales will help continue the special care at Hayward House for which Neil was so grateful – such as the complementary therapy and counselling services, along with enhancements to the unit’s garden and reception area. We’d like to thank Neil’s friends for continuing to raise money in his honour.”

Friend Pete Sorenti said: “The environment was important to Neil and he would love the idea that the gardens are being improved through this appeal.”

Another friend, Pete Barker, said: “He did really enjoy going to Hayward House, mainly for reflexology sessions, which he found very relaxing.

“The appeal is helping to fund new posts for complementary therapists, who can make a huge difference to people's wellbeing – and they really did for Neil.”

Proceeds from Street Furniture by Neil Hill are going to the Cats Protection League and Lace Market Theatre, as well as Hayward House Appeal.

Katrin adds: “This book will raise money for these charities, but it also serves as a memento to all those who knew him for his unique blend of insight, humour, mischief, and utter bloody-mindedness that was our friend Squealy.”

You can buy the book from Amazon or donate to the appeal here: Peter Sorenti is fundraising for Nottingham University Hospitals Charity

Please be aware that the book contains some incidences of strong language.