Milestones of Willen Hospice
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.
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 (mp3 file 1.7MB)
December 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.
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.
October 1993
The Buckingham Shop is opened.
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. It celebrates its 10th anniversary in January 2006.
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 complimentary 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.
October 2003
The Lottery designs its own logo.
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 it’s 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.
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.
