THE first step into Sobell House can be a daunting one for new patients: an admission they are reaching the end of their life.

But hesitation is soon eased by an encouraging smile from behind the reception desk, where the hospice's warm welcome begins.

Staff receptionist Shireen Hussain is joined by a team of volunteers, including 73-year-old Claire Burke who embraced the role 20 years ago.

She said: "It's such a fantastic atmosphere. It's like a family here, they are all great fun. It's a lovely feeling and the patients all chat to us. It's wonderful."

Mrs Burke, who lives near Faringdon, has also sewn hundreds of eye-catching bags for the palliative care nurses.

They are especially designed to carry syringe drivers - a portable pump used to administer a continual flow of medication.

She said: "The syringe drivers look so awful and I enjoy a bit of sewing. I do all sorts of patterns."

Gill Fowler, 55, has been volunteering on the reception desk for five years.

The paraplegic Burcot resident said the design of the hospice makes it easy for her to get around in her wheelchair.

She said: "It's a very friendly environment - when people actually get into the hospice they realise what happens and what an amazing place it is."

Mrs Fowler lost her mum Mary Amos to pancreatic cancer in 2004, who spent the last days of her life at Sobell House.

Her dad Allan Amos was also cared for at the hospice shortly before he died from bowel cancer in 2008.

She said: "The care they received was fantastic. My mum probably held off coming here but she became distressed after she had a fall in the night. Sobell made her comfortable and very quickly she settled. We felt she was really being looked after, the whole family was a lot better knowing she was getting the specialist care she needed.

"Because of some of those things I've dealt with I can empathise with people at the end of their lives and hope they get some comfort."

Former contracts officer Mrs Fowler took early retirement in 2010 from the UK Atomic Energy Authority in Culham and has since dedicated her Thursday mornings to Sobell.

She said: "My friends' immediate reactions are often 'that must be really hard'. It has its moments - you see people in distress at the end of their lives - but it is such a cheerful, positive place. It's hard to see it as anything but that once you've spent some time here.

"It's sad when someone you have got to know passes away but you like to think you've helped over that time."