Interview with Gail Weingartner
Name – Gail Weingartner
Role – Driver
How long at hoppa? – 9 years, working 3 days each week
What did you do before joining hoppa? – Diary Manager for a Photographic company, National Co-ordinator for the Pituitary Foundation & Purser on 747s with British Airways.
What motivated you to pursue a career in helping people? – I am a pituitary patient and founding member of the Pituitary Foundation charity so I have been involved in the care sector since 1994. I have since that time, run a local group for the Solent area, which was set up to support other pituitary patients, their families and carers.
What does a typical day look like for you? – I usually work on either the Haslemere & Godalming or Cranleigh Hospital hoppa service carrying our passengers to the Royal Surrey County Hospital, Mount Alvernia, Milford & Haslemere Hospitals or any other medical facility in the Waverley area.
What do you enjoy or find most rewarding about your role? – interacting with the people I carry, who on the whole, would find it difficult to travel without our Hospital hoppa service. Sometimes the interaction is lighthearted and then on another occasion, someone opens up to me and I do my best to listen and offer up information or ideas, which I have picked up from my own pituitary experiences. Every day is different and that is what I really enjoy.
What has been your happiest or proudest moment at hoppa? – When we made it to the ‘Oscars’ also known as the Smiley Charity Film Awards for our hoppa film. Plus, I do get a buzz on the occasions when hoppa pass on lovely feedback from my passengers.
What are your interests or hobbies outside of work? – Motorbikes (I have two), the Greek language and everything Greek, running the aforesaid local support group for pituitary patients and Lego too.
Do you have any pets? Unfortunately not at the moment but for many years, a dog, which has normally been a Labrador.
What’s your favourite way to unwind after work? – Out on the motorbike and putting in a little studying of my Greek language skills.
What’s your hidden talent that (until now) most people don’t know about? – Writing poetry.
What’s the best thing about working at hoppa? – Very relaxed working environment providing you get on with the job to the best of your ability. Plus, the camaraderie!
