The Parkinson’s Disease Society was founded on 26th February 1969, by Mali Jenkins in Tunbridge Wells. The Halifax branch was co-founded in October 1970 by Hilda Hitchen and her minister at King Cross Methodist Church. Hilda had contacted Mali to discuss PD and mutually support each other. Both had loved ones with Parkinson's: Mali's sister had been diagnosed with Parkinson's and 16 years earlier Hilda's husband had been diagnosed, aged 40, only six years after their wedding.
Hilda Hitchen was a remarkable lady. Despite there being no help or support available and very little known about therapies, she managed to spread the word about PD, care for her husband and work tirelessly within the branch for nearly 30 years to the help those in Halifax, and surrounding areas, with PD.
Even after the death of her husband in 1974, until her own failing health forced her to take a back seat in 1999. She continued in her role of Vice President of the branch, giving out information until her death in 2004.
Hilda was one of the first people to be made an Honorary Life Member of the Society and the framed certificate signed by Princess Diana took pride of place in her living room. One of Hilda’s ambitions was to set up a Specialist Parkinson’s Nurse Service and just prior to her death in 2004 we were very pleased to be able to tell her of our success in securing a nurse in Calderdale.
Hilda once said ‘Of course, I would rather Parkinson’s hadn’t existed in my life, but through the PDS I’ve learned an awful lot, I have made so many good friends, locally and nationally, and it has expanded my life so much.