History of Salisbury Hospicecare Trust

1981

In January the Salisbury hospice team was set up. This was the beginnings of the hospice service in Salisbury and was initially based at the Central Health Clinic. Salisbury Hospicecare Trust, under Chairmanship of Peter Gillam, obtained an office for the hospice team at the Old Infirmary in Fisherton Street.

1981-82

The charity received considerable support from the public when it was named as the beneficiary of Derrick Alford's Mayoral Appeal and £26,000 was raised. Initially the only service provided was community palliative care. Two home care sisters and a social worker were part funded for the first 3 years by Macmillan Cancer Relief. Since the end of that funding Salisbury Hospice has received no further financial support from Macmillan.

1987

The Salisbury Hospice building at Salisbury District Hospital was opened with 6 beds. In total costing the charity over £1 million.

1995

Salisbury Hospice was extended to provide a further 2 bedrooms and office capacity to develop community palliative care, hospital palliative care and bereavement support.

2000

The garden room was enlarged to provide better facilities for the Peter Gillam Support Centre and better use of courtyard garden.

2001

Salisbury Hospicecare Trust celebrated its 20th Anniversary with a summer garden party. A presentation was made to Derrick Alford who resigned as a trustee after many yearsservice. The Peter Gillam Support Centre was re-furbished to include an activity area for visiting patients.

2002

The kitchen in the hospice was up-graded and improved. The Salisbury Hospicecare Trust website was setup to publicise the work of the charity and to give up to date information about activities and events. Through justgiving.com it is now possible to donate online to the charity.

2003

The trustees of Salisbury Hospicecare Trust committed funds in the region of £356,000 to further extend the building. Major building works started this March up-grading and expanding a number of areas of the hospice building. Derrick Alford, a long supporter of the charity, received the MBE from Her Majesty the Queen in recognition of his work for the charity. The trustees decided to name the new relatives' room The Alford Room in recognition of both Derrick and Vida Alfords’ work over the years.

2005

The charity donated £250,000 towards the cost of the Pembroke Unit - the new cancer treatment unit at SDH. It also undertook to fund the occupational and physiotherapy services at an annual cost of £60,000.

2006

To celebrate the charity's 25th Anniversary, it became the keeper of the Millennium Flame for a twelve month period. The flame was originally used by Her Majesty the Queen to light a beacon on the River Thames at Midnight 31 December 1999. It has since travelled the country raising funds for various charities including Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie. It featured in several fundraising events in and around Salisbury before being taken to City Hall London in May 2007.

2007

In July Dr Shaun McGee (seen left) became Chairman of Salisbury Hospicecare Trust, replacing David Lintin (right) who had been Chairman since 1996. Dr Peter Gillam (centre) the highly respected founding Chairman sadly died in 2008. His vision and inspiration in establishing Salisbury Hospicecare Trust is a fine legacy.

2008

In February Salisbury Hospicecare Trust opened its first charity shop at 11 Catherine Street. The shop is run in association with Dorothy House Hospice at Winsford, near Bradford on Avon. A separate trading company has been established.

2008-9

For the first time operating expenditure exceeded £1 million. With this amount to raise an increase in fundraising activity has been necessary with the introduction of the Midnight Walk and the opening of the Hospice shop.

2010

As the start of a programme of review and investment by the trustees the charity’s first chief executive Sara Morley was recruited.