The man who put the “Rosemere” into Rosemere Cancer Centre and Rosemere Cancer Foundation, Peter Mileham OBE, has been appointed the foundation’s new chairman.
Some 20 years ago, former High Sheriff of Lancashire Peter was asked to give his opinion on a name and some logos for a charity to support the newly opened Lancashire and Lakeland Cancer Centre at the Royal Preston Hospital.
A respected member of the business community, Peter was at the time Marketing Director of Liquid Plastics, now Sika Preston, which he had steered to a number of national awards. Peter thought none of what he saw good enough and so came up with the suggestion Rosemere, a name he coined by combining the red rose of Lancashire with the meres (lakes) of the Lake District. As it fitted perfectly with the centre’s patient catchment area, it was an instant hit and was adopted by the charity and cancer centre itself.
Explained Peter, who was then invited on to the charity’s management committee: “From the outset, the cancer centre, supported by the foundation, had ambitions to provide the same world class services as the North West’s two other regional specialist cancer treatment centres, Manchester’s Christie and Merseyside’s Clatterbridge – both one word names that are easy for people to remember. I felt our area’s centre needed a similar moniker.”
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Peter, who retired 12 years ago, went on to serve a three-year tenure on Rosemere Cancer Foundation’s management committee before his appointment as National President of the British Chambers of Commerce, which involved much travel abroad, made it impossible for him to continue.
While on the committee, Peter, who is a Deputy Lieutenant of Lancashire, worked with the county’s Lord Lieutenant to bring about a royal visit to the centre – HRH Prince Edward and his wife Sophie came to chat with staff and patients. They also hosted a fundraising dinner for Rosemere Cancer Foundation.
More recently, Peter has served on the foundation’s 20 Years Anniversary Appeal Committee. The appeal is the charity’s most ambitious to date. It launched last March – the centre’s 20th birthday – to raise £1.5 million to fund a trio of ground-breaking projects there to celebrate its special anniversary.
Sue Thompson, Rosemere Cancer Foundation’s Chief Officer, said: “It’s with great pleasure we welcome Peter, such a longstanding friend and supporter, as our new chairman. Given we are in the throes of celebrating the centre and foundation’s 20th anniversaries, it seems especially fitting to have Peter back and at the charity’s helm.”
Peter, who is an Honorary Fellow of the University of Central Lancashire and a trustee of Blackburn Cathedral, begins his Rosemere role – a largely ambassadorial one – immediately, taking over from Dennis Benson OBE. Dennis announced his retirement at the end of last year, shortly after celebrating his 85th birthday and having held the post for more than a decade.
Peter, who was awarded his OBE in 2016 for services to Lancashire, said: “Dennis did a tremendous job and his shoes will be hard to fill. However, I am looking forward to bringing everything I can to my new role in terms of my whole-hearted commitment.”
Peter also has a very personal reason for wanting to help the foundation. Sadly last year, he lost his beloved wife Shelagh to cancer. Shelagh had been a patient at the cancer centre.
With Shelagh, Peter has two daughters, solicitor Charlotte, who lives in Poulton-le-Fylde, and Caroline, who lives in London and works for Google. He is grandfather to Charlotte’s son Tom (11) and Caroline’s 15-month-old daughter Scarlett. Home for Peter is Preston and when not on any official duties, he enjoys gardening and supporting the arts, especially live theatre and music.
