Willen History

The beginning

It all began a long time ago…
In fact, way back in the Middle Ages, there was a hospice near Willen that offered hospitality to pilgrims on their long journey to Walsingham. And its name? The Hospice of St John. But that’s another story...

February 12th 1974

At a symposium in Bletchley the idea of a hospice was publicly launched by a Winslow GP, Marjorie Reid. She said, “ I Stuck my neck out and said it would take 6 years and £250,000 to achieve.” In the event both her predictions were amazingly accurate.

April 28th 1974

The Milton Keynes Development Corporation were persuaded to approve the scheme and allocated a site on the planned Willen housing estate. Marjorie named the hospice ‘The Hospice of Our Lady and St John’. It was Mary, Jesus’s mother, and his friend John who stayed at the foot of the cross loving him through his dying – “Exactly,” she said, “what the hospice was all about.” From the beginning Marjorie was assisted by district nurse, Dorothy Jell, the religious Society of the Sacred Mission, at Willen Priory, now The Well, and a rapidly growing band of supportive volunteers. Later in 1974 the first publicity brochure was produced, coincidentally with a picture of Manor Farm on it. The fundraising began, and has never stopped.

October 1975

The Hospice is Incorporated and registered with the Charity Commission.

1978

Manor Farm unexpectedly goes up for sale, and aided by an anonymous loan is purchased for the Hospice.

July 1979

A Home Care (to become Macmillan) Service starts operating from a single room in The Priory, led by Area Nursing Officer, Jean Maughan "…whilst Manor Farm is dramatically transformed. Furniture, kitchen utensils and everything under the sun is donated and collected. Sheets came in all sizes and colours as the population changed to duvets."

1980

The Friends of Willen Hospice is established as a separate charity.  Its aim is to fundraise but primarily  to provide funds for one bed at Willen hospice.

January 1st 1981

 The Hospice opens its doors for inpatient services. Vegetables, fruit, eggs and rabbits, for the pot, are provided from the Hospice’s own gardens. Cleaners are volunteers and everyone mucks in. It is a daring and exciting atmosphere – will it or won’t it work? Fundraising continues apace in the City Centre and the villages, in markets, stalls and jumble sales.

1985

With generous help from the Japanese Sasakawa Foundation, the first extension is completed, which includes a laundry area, additional beds, lecture rooms and accommodation for the clerical team, Home Care Service, and the Day Hospice. The Day Hospice provides art, pottery, social and other diversionary activities. Patients are collected by volunteers in their own cars. One patient remarks, “I forgot I was ill!” From early days Hospice pets lower the blood pressure of many a patient, namely Thomas the cat, Bonzo, Scruffy and Perry amongst the dogs, and not forgetting the horses in the paddock.

1986

Diana Princess of Wales visits the Hospice and spends time with patients and their families. Other visitors include Jimmy Saville, Eddie the Eagle and Susan Hampshire.  Rev Leslie Jell talks about Diana's visit on BBC Three Counties Radio.

1988

The Hospice’s first charity shop is opened, in Queensway, Bletchley. Merchandise is collected and processed in ‘Bet’s Barn’, named after the enthusiastic supporter, Bet Morgan.   Ann Sidgwick secures a donation for the first computer system to be installed in the Hospice - an IBM PC complete with software and printer for nurses and admin staff to use - and also provides training (as she still does today as a gift to Willen Hospice) 

March 1990

The hospice’s Trading arm – Willen Hospice Ventures is formed. 

1991

The Bereavement Service and The Social Care Department are started.

September 1992

Olney Shop is opened. The storage of shop merchandise outgrows ‘Bet’s Barn’ and moves to the warehouse in Stacey Bushes. Whilst caring for more patients, Memorial Services outgrow the delightful but small Willen Church and since, enjoy the considerable friendship and support of the staff and congregations of the Church of Christ the Cornerstone.

1993

The Stony Stratford Shop is opened in June and the Buckingham Shop is opened in October.

28th April 1994

The second extension, named The Sir John Reid Unit and ‘Bradbury Day Care Centre’ is opened by our chief patron, Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Kent. …This doubles the number of beds to 20 and is once again enabled by considerable help from the Japanese community.

September 1994

The Leighton Buzzard Shop is opened.

March 1995

The Towcester Shop is opened.

September 1996

‘Bet’s Barn’ becomes the Aldridge Centre, housing a sizeable room for the hospice library, staff training, meetings and a chapel.

26th January 1996

The Hospice Lottery is started by Roy Kelsey and has its first draw.

1996/97

Willen Hospice Ventures establishes a Mail Order facility.

1997

The Lymphoedema service is established.

Christmas 1997

The first Lights of Love ceremony is held around the Christmas tree.

March 1998

 The Hospice at Home service tentatively begins. In partnership with District Nurses and other agencies such as Marie Curie and home carers a great many people are enabled to stay where they want to be – in the familiar surroundings of their own homes.

1999

The Befriending Service begins with volunteers providing a few hours of companionship or respite for hard-pressed carers. All Hospice departments, (for good or ill!) are given computers.

June 2000

The Newport Pagnell Shop is opened by actress, Kathy Staff (more widely known as Nora Batty)

2001

The Carers Group begins supporting Carers with all the facilities of the Day Hospice, now including some complementary therapies.

The summer of 2002

The Hospice has a new garden room extension overlooking the lake. The in-house unit is transferred to Saxon Clinic for 3 months for refurbishment. We re-open with oxygen supply and telephone connection to each room, a relocated reception and the whole hospice re-decorated and carpeted.

January 2003

The warehouse outgrows Stacey Bushes and moves to Kiln Farm. The Lottery Team move to Kiln Farm to make room for a visitor's quiet room at the hospice. 

2004

The Hospice grounds are re-landscaped opening up the paddock area with closer views of the lake, and providing greater accessibility for those in wheelchairs. The Stony Stratford Book Shop is opened in December.

Summer 2005

The lottery has its first Superdraw with a top prize of £2,000!

2006

In January, the Hospice has a special Service of Celebration at the Church of Christ the Cornerstone to mark its Silver Jubilee. In the summer, Macmillan Cancer Support provide funding for a full time Family Support Worker and the Macmillan Family Support Service is born. In November the Community Palliative Care Service is expanded.  The Lottery reaches its 10th anniversary.

2007

In February the Lymphoedema Service is expanded. In May the first Furniture Store is opened in Bletchley. In September work begins on the Day Hospice Extension and Barn Conversion.

2008

A new CEO, Paul Hinson and a new Director of Nursing and Patient Care, Leanne Woodward (later to become Bircham) are appointed following the retirement of Christopher Eyes.  Work  on the Day Hospice extension and Barn Conversion is completed and the Community Nursing Teams move in to their new space.  On the commercial side, a monthly enewsletter is launched along with a new eShop. 

2009

The Hospice reveals a half million shortfall in funds brought about by the recession and an appeal is launched.  The first MK Midnight Moo is held to help boost funds.  The lottery is rebranded and a second furniture store is opened in Buckingham.  Many staff undertake a parachute jump to raise funds.  The social care team organize their first conference dealing with the difficult subject of bereavement for children and young people. Michael Rosen, children's author, is a guest speaker. 

2010

The social care department recruits and develops its services for families and carers.   Willen Hospice prepares for its 30th year and with expert help sets forth its vision for the future.  A new logo, website, Yes campaign, hospice video are provided by local companies and many individual and corporate supporters get on board to assist in fundraising for the 30th year and beyond.

2011 - 30th Anniversary Year

Willen Hospice is 30 and celebrates with a special service of commemoration.

Willen Hospice embraces its new look. The new colours, logo and  "yes" are rolled out to all Hospice outlets including shop facades, vehicles, literature etc.  giving it a clear identity and sending out a postive aspiration to the community:- "yes, always there to care"

Clinical teams run a series of  open day, information sessions at the hospital, Hospice shops and at Willen Hospice itself, to raise awareness of everything that the Hospice does to provide care for individuals and families.

Campaign 30 is launched setting out a three year plan to raise £2million for some essential Hospice projects. 

Fundraising continues with a grand Pearl Anniversary Ball at MK Dons Stadium to celebrate 30 years of care and a special 30th Anniversary Draw for a car.  A coin-collecting Vortex machine is placed in Midsummer Place to boost 30th year fundraising and proves very popular with all.

The Friends of Willen Hospice reach their milestone of having raised over  £1.5million for Willen Hospice.  They exceed their 1980's expectation of providing funds for one bed annually.