A final gift of music: how charity musicians created lasting memories for a family on the NMU

Brian Pickersgill was a much-loved figure in Borrowash. An active member of his community, devoted Derby County supporter, walking football enthusiast and a friend to everyone he met.

When Brian became unwell, his popularity was evident: his loved ones formed a WhatsApp group just to coordinate visits and updates. He was never short of company or care.

Brian’s journey with cancer began in 2021 with a diagnosis of skin cancer on his lip. After initial treatment at the Royal Derby Hospital, the cancer returned in his lymph nodes in 2023. Despite further treatment and undergoing radiotherapy in 2024, Brian’s condition took a sudden turn. Just four sessions away from completing his radiotherapy, Brian lost feeling in his legs and doctors discovered the cancer had spread to his spine, lungs and liver.

Initially cared for at home, Brian was later admitted to the Nightingale Macmillan Unit (NMU) on June 14th, where he spent the final weeks of his life. His daughter Emily recalls this time with a mix of heartbreak and praise.

“The NMU is an incredible place,” Emily says. “The nurses and volunteers felt like extended family. Dad was hesitant to go, but once he was there, he really liked it.”

Though his mobility was limited, the NMU team made sure Brian was able to enjoy the simple pleasures of fresh air and sunshine, taking him out to the gardens where he could sit among the flowers. One special afternoon, the staff organised a family gathering in the day room so relatives from his hometown of Accrington could visit.

But for Emily, one of the most profound and lasting memories came through the charity’s Air Arts programme, which brings music, poetry, dance and other creative experiences into hospital settings.

Just three days before Brian passed away, he was no longer responding to touch or voices. The nursing team mentioned to Jamie, one of the visiting Air Arts musicians, that Brian loved The Beatles. Jamie gently entered the room with his guitar and began to play Blackbird.

“It was such a powerful and special moment,” Emily recalls. “Dad’s eyebrows were moving, I felt like he was still there, listening.” Emily later organised Blackbird to be played at her dad’s funeral and says that moment has stayed with her.

“I wish my sister could’ve seen it, but it was such a precious moment between me and Dad. Music gave us that.”

In tribute, Emily and her family chose to donate funds raised at Brian’s funeral to the NMU and other charities that had supported him. She describes the impact of the Air Arts musicians with warmth and appreciation:

“It’s such a hard time for everyone on the NMU. The music takes you away from that for a few minutes. You get to share something meaningful with your loved one. It’s comforting. That memory will stay with me forever—it’s beautiful.”

Air Arts, part of our hospital charity, exists to bring moments like this into the lives of patients and families facing their hardest days. Whether it’s through a song, a painting, or a poem, these small acts of creativity can offer enormous emotional support.