The Ayrshire Hospice has confirmed that John G Burns OBE will continue as Chief Executive, providing leadership as the organisation moves into the next important phase of its development.

John joined the Ayrshire Hospice on 17 June 2026, bringing more than 40 years of experience in NHS Scotland. He was previously Chief Executive of NHS Ayrshire and Arran and, most recently, served as NHS Scotland Chief Operating Officer.

Since joining the Hospice, John has made a significant contribution to the organisation, helping to shape its future strategic direction and taking forward important work around the development and delivery of Hospice services.

Following discussions with the Ayrshire Hospice Board, John has agreed to continue as Chief Executive until March 2028, providing continuity of leadership as the Hospice finalises and implements its new service and people strategies. This will allow the Hospice to build on its strong foundations and continue to develop its services for patients and their families across Ayrshire and Arran.

John will also support the Board with the recruitment of his successor as Chief Executive, with that process expected to take place during 2027.

Professor Tom Steele, Chair of the Ayrshire Hospice Board, said:

“The Board is delighted that John has agreed to continue as Chief Executive. He brings considerable experience to the role and, in the relatively short time he has been with us, has developed a strong understanding of the organisation, our services and the opportunities ahead.

“This is an important period for Ayrshire Hospice. Having continuity of leadership will allow us to maintain momentum on the work already underway while preparing carefully for the organisation’s future leadership.

“We are grateful to John for his commitment to the Hospice and look forward to continuing to work with him through this next phase.”

John G Burns OBE, Chief Executive of Ayrshire Hospice, said:

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at the Ayrshire Hospice so far and have been hugely impressed by the commitment of colleagues across the organisation and the care and support they provide to patients and their families every day.

“The Hospice has a real opportunity to continue developing its services to meet the changing needs of people across Ayrshire and Arran. I am delighted to continue working with colleagues and the Board as we take that work forward and prepare the organisation for the future.”

A very special new book by Ayrshire writer Lorraine Johnston has launched today, with 100% of the proceeds going to the Ayrshire Hospice.

A Bear Called AH! tells the story of Alex, who comes home from school to find a bear wearing a label with his initials on it. But isn’t he too old to have a bear?

As the story unfolds, Alex discovers the many bears around him, the people who own and love them, and the surprising story behind each one. Will he give his bear away, or will he discover that you’re never too old to have a bear?

Created with the support of 12 professional artists, each bringing their own unique style to the story, A Bear Called AH! is a colourful gift book designed to appeal to children and grown-ups alike.

Buy A Bear Called AH! online

A story brought to life by 12 artists

Ayrshire Hospice Senior Fundraising Manager Shalane Breen said: “We have been delighted to work closely with Lorraine over the last 10 months and it’s incredibly pleasing to see the finished article.

“It’s a charming story about Alex and we hope our supporters will love it as much as we do. The artists who have supported Lorraine have created some wonderful little characters, and we can’t wait to find out who everyone’s favourite bear is.”

Author Lorraine Johnston said: “Last November I had an idea – not my usual-sized idea for a story, but a very BIG idea!

“This beautiful gift book truly is one of a kind. Instead of being illustrated by one illustrator, it has been created with 12 professional artists, each painting one bear page. The result is a classic, colourful children’s book that will very much appeal to the grown-ups too!

“I am truly grateful to the 12 artists who have become ‘Team Bear’, to my friend Ann Robin for her ‘Shelf of Bears’, and to Roddy Martine for writing such a wonderful foreword. I’d also like to express my huge thanks to the ‘Village of Kindness’ that has surrounded and supported this project.

“We are all incredibly proud of A Bear Called AH! and delighted to be gifting our time and work so that 100% of the proceeds go to the Ayrshire Hospice, a wonderful organisation which provides such an amazing and vital service to our community.”

Meet ‘Team Bear’

Twelve professional artists have each brought one of the book’s bears to life in their own distinctive style:

Jan Ferguson – Jock’s ‘Stinky Bear!’
Peter Foyle – the Baby Bear
Lynn Howarth – Christopher’s Memory Bear
Margaret Johnston – Pandy the Panda Bear
Paul Kennedy – the Bear Called AH! (front cover and last page)
Vanessa Lawrence – Teddington the Barn Owl Bear
Lewis Mackenzie – Snowy, the Lost and Found Bear
Madhumati Manda – Saffron the Musical Bear
Ewan McClure – Mina the Messenger Bear
Jacqueline Orr – Pierre-Loup and the Teddy Bear’s Picnic
Kath Pender – the Washing-Line Bear
Yvonne Taylor – Midge the Fishing Bear

Special thanks also go to Ann Robin, who painted the ‘Shelf of Bears’.

The book features a foreword by author, journalist and broadcaster Roddy Martine, was designed by Richard Longmuir, Creative Director at Launch Digital, and printed by Brown Brothers Printers.

Get your copy of A Bear Called AH!

A Bear Called AH! is priced at £14.95, with 100% of the proceeds going to the Ayrshire Hospice.

Copies are available from Gargowan Gifts at the Ayrshire Hospice, 35 Racecourse Road, Ayr, or can be ordered from our online shop.

Buy A Bear Called AH! online

You can also find out more about Lorraine Johnston and the story behind A Bear Called AH! on her website.

The Ayrshire Hospice can announce the appointment of John G Burns OBE as Interim Chief Executive as Tracy Flynn has made the decision to move on from the role to pursue a new challenge.

John joins the Hospice after working in NHS Scotland for over 40 years and was most recently NHS Scotland Chief Operating Officer, a post he was seconded to in 2021. Prior to this role, he was Chief Executive of NHS Ayrshire and Arran.

Tracy took up position of Ayrshire Hospice Chief Executive in Spring 2022 and oversee the Capital Build Project – a project in excess of £18 million pounds that transformed our Hospice home.

Tom Steele, Chair of the Ayrshire Hospice Board, said: “On a personal level, and on behalf of the Ayrshire Hospice Board, I would like to thank Tracy for her leadership and commitment to the Ayrshire Hospice over the last four and a half years as Director of Patient and Family Services and subsequently as Chief Executive. Tracy has made a significant impact on the Hospice during a period of considerable change and historic importance. While driving the Capital Build Project, her leadership helped ensure continuity of care and services throughout the decant from Racecourse Road, the successful return to our outstanding new Hospice home, and the transition into the important period following completion of the Capital Build Project.

“Beyond this, Tracy has played an influential role within the wider hospice sector in Scotland, working alongside colleagues across the Scotland’s Hospices collective to advocate for more sustainable funding and recognition of hospice care at a national level. She has also championed innovation and long-term sustainability within our own organisation, including the establishment of Gargowan as a means of developing new opportunities to support the Hospice’s future.

“Throughout this time, her focus has remained firmly on delivering the highest standards of care and support for the people and families who rely on us. The Board is grateful for Tracy’s dedication and wishes her every success and happiness in the future.”

John adds: “I am delighted to be joining the Ayrshire Hospice team as Interim Chief Executive. It has been wonderful to meet many colleagues so far. In the days and weeks ahead I will look forward to meeting as many colleagues as possible and get to know the work that you do. I look forward to working with you in the weeks and months ahead.”

Read John’s bio here

Written by Lynne Gordon, former Ayrshire Hospice member of staff and friend of Margaret.

It is with great sadness I share the news of the sudden death of a former and highly regarded colleague of the Ayrshire Hospice. Margaret Cassidy died on 20^th February at Crosshouse hospital with her close family by her side.

Margaret had a long and distinguished career in the nursing profession. In 1980 she moved from her home town of Ayr at the tender age of 17 to Glasgow to commence her general nurse training at Stobhill Hospital. Her first Staff Nurse posts were in renal medicine and as part of a diabetic team.  She qualified as a Registered Midwife, working in Glasgow before commencing her District Nurse training where her love for caring for patients in their own home became the focus of her nursing career.

As a qualified District Nursing Sister Margaret worked in the Ayrshire town of Dalmellington and surrounding villages. Sister Cassidy was a “Well kent face” a highly regarded member of the community. A special time which she remembered with great fondness. Further study and the successful completion of a postgraduate certificate in palliative led her to the Ayrshire Hospice.

She began at the Ayrshire Hospice as a member of the Specialist Palliative Care team (SPCN) in 1999, caring for patients and their families in their own homes across Ayrshire. A kind, caring and knowledgeable nurse who was held in the utmost regard by patients, carers and partnering professionals in the community.

Her leadership skills shone through when she became SPCN team leader, expanding further when teams merged and she became the Manager of Community and Day Services. She led the team on the redesign and review of how community and day services were delivered. This included a redesign of the day services environment to ensure it offered a modern, welcoming space conducive to individualised, person centred care.

She led an inspired new project on referral allocation by introducing triage, aiming to ensure that patients were seen promptly by the most appropriate member of the hospice team. This was a truly innovative development at the time, and this project was presented at many conferences where other hospices were able to learn from this dynamic and innovative new approach. She was also an active member of the Day Services Organisation for specialist palliative care professionals helping to coordinate and organise day services conferences across the UK. 

Margaret took early retirement early in 2019 after a 20 year career at the Ayrshire Hospice. She influenced, supported and motivated many nurses throughout her career. As the sad news of her death has been shared tributes from colleagues have been many.  A calm, kind and experienced nurse, she had a gift for truly listening and guiding. Her wise counsel has been recounted by many.  The clip clopping of her heels as she hurried along the corridor is remembered with great fondness.

Patients and their families remained at the heart of everything that Margaret did throughout her career, she was passionate about making today matter for every person that crossed her path. A true professional, many colleagues have said the most professional nurse they have ever had the pleasure to work alongside. 

Our thoughts are with her family Peter, Kim, Evan and Leon. A shining beacon of light, beautiful inside and out, taken too soon.

Good bye our dear friend.   

Margaret’s funeral will take place on Friday 13th March at 1:30pm in Holmsford Bridge Crematorium, Dreghorn, followed by tea at Highgrove House Hotel, Troon

We are incredibly grateful to have received the support and generosity of Ayrshire Refrigeration for the work they have carried out installing an air source heat pump in our Ayr and Troon shops.

Following a full survey of both shops, it was identified that the best solution was to install Mitsubishi air source heat pumps, as these systems are highly efficient and economical to run. The Ayr shop required four systems, while the Troon shop required five systems.

Ayrshire Refrigeration carried out this work completely free of Labour charges, including the installation of all equipment, pipework, and electrical connections. In addition, they were able to secure a discount on the equipment and materials from the Beijer Ref Group, to further increase savings for the Ayrshire Hospice.

The Ayrshire Hospice is excited to launch it brand new online shop to supporters today, Monday 10th November.

Following on from our new website, www.ayrshirehospice.org, our online shop has been given a new look for 2025 and we’re delighted with how it looks!

The online shop stocks are fabulous Christmas cards, diaries, notebooks and calendars, just in time for the Festive season. You’ll also be able to purchase specialised Christmas baubles for your or a friend or family member’s tree.

More items will be added to the online shop in the new year, including our Gargowan Gin, as we bring new and exciting goods to buy and support the Ayrshire Hospice.

Visit the shop today