A year after launching the Thorpe Hall Capital Appeal, HRH The Duchess of Gloucester has paid a return visit to the hospice.
Her Royal Highness spent time meeting members of the hospice’s day services centre, chatting to staff and viewing the building work that has happened over the last year.
Her visit came on the day it was announced the appeal total had topped £2 million. The total now sits at £2,104,142.
The Duchess, who is the patron of the £6 million appeal to fund the building of a new state-of-the-art hospice at Thorpe Hall, was greeted on her arrival by Mayor of Peterborough Councillor June Stokes, Mayoress Karen Gates and the chief executive of Sue Ryder Heidi Travis.
Hospice manager Philip Ball took the Duchess on a tour of the West Wing of the hospice which has undergone a raft of refurbishment work over the last year. The Wing is currently used by the day service centre, providing a hub for activities and therapies for those with long term conditions. She met a number of people who use the service and spent some time admiring paintings and discussing baking tips.
The Thorpe Hall shop was the next stop on the Duchess’ tour. She spent time browsing the rails and chatting to staff and volunteers. On her way back she was shown the camellia she planted at the launch last year which is thriving and will take pride of place at the entrance of the new hospice once it’s built.
She met and chatted with nurses and auxiliaries before being introduced to appeal board chairman David Laing.
Philip said: “The Duchess was very interested to see the work that has already been done here at Thorpe Hall. She spent some time talking to those who are already using the new facilities and wished us well as we continue our fundraising over the coming months.
“Her visit couldn’t have come at a better time – today we announced we had hit, and in fact surpassed, the £2 million mark which is a huge boost for everyone involved. As ever we owe our thanks to everyone in the area who has supported us and who continues to do so.”
For information about Thorpe Hall and the £6 million appeal visit www.thorpehall.org.
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