Final touches put in place at new hospice
by Pete Bennett
(Herald Express 11/1/2007)

SPECIAL PLACE: The stained glass window has now been installed at Shootersway.

There has been frantic pack­ing at the Hospice of St Francis this week as they prepare for the final move to the new £6.4 million premises off Shootersway in Berkhamsted.

The final two patients have been temporarily transferred from the hospice as services shut down for two weeks ready for the big move.
Last week also had an emotional moment when the much-loved stained glass window, that has graced the inpatients unit on Shrublands Road since its opening 20 years ago, was moved into its new location.

Liz Richards, communications Co-Ordinator at the hospice said: "It looks just perfect there. "It really feels as though the spirit of our care has now moved with us."

The windows were commissioned by Dr Nell O'Conor, Medical director at the Hospice in 1986 when the inpatient unit first opened. Liz said, she had passed through Chatres on her way home from a holiday in France, visited the cathedral and seen the magnificent stained glass windows. On leaving the cathedral she was drawn to a shop selling stained glass.

The shop was run by a family who were responsible for maintaining the glass in Chatres cathedral and for taking it out during the war and looking after it.
Following a visit to the hospice, the designer from the shop, Jacques Loire accepted a commission and designed the windows for the hospice.

Liz added: "The story goes that they were held up at customs and the Hospice had to pay extra duty on them as they were so heavy!"
The story of the windows echoes that of the first donation to St Christopher's Hospice, the world's first teaching hospice.

Liz said: "Dame Cicely Saunders had been caring for a Polish refugee, David Tasma and he left a £500 donation fol­lowing his death, for Cicely for a new hospice. He accompanied his donation by saying 'I will be a window in your home'.

Well we now have our windows in our home and we so look forward to starting care in our new hospice."

Progress update

QUITE A TRIP: The route down to Western Africa.

Chris and Terry Turner, the daring duo taking part in a zany banger challenge from Wigginton to The Gambia in aid of the hospice, are making good progress.

The pair, along with their faithful stuffed friend Martyn, have over¬come flat tyres, illness and even a speeding ticket in their quest to raise
around £2,000 for the hos¬pice.
Driving in their £100 VW golf Turner's Terrors were coming towards the border of Mauritania in Western Africa as the HeraldExpress went to press.
Follow their progress and read their up-to-the-minute diary by visiting www.turnersterrors.co.uk