Hospice marks 40 years of '˜a strong emotional bond with Northampton'

Cynthia Spencer Hospice - Whitehills Primary School pupils sing happy birthday on hospice's 40th birthday and tree planting by High Street Minister Marcus Jones NNL-160429-151001009

Celebrations have taken place to mark the 40th anniversary of Cynthia Spencer Hospice's opening in Northampton.

The hospice was opened by the Queen Mother on May 7, 1976.

An event in the hospice’s woodland yesterday saw Marcus Jones MP, a junior Government minister, and Michael Ellis MP plant a tree with Whitehills Primary pupils singing Happy Birthday.

As well as the care for people in their last days at the Kettering Road site, there is now also a Hospice at Home service, which is something not envisaged when a single building was opened four decades ago.

Mr Ellis, whose Aunt Diana spent her final days at the hospice, said: “It’s a centre of excellence, really. All of the staff here give a thoroughly excellent service.

“There are very few people in the town who have not had some relative or friend benefit from that care.

“There is a very strong emotional bond between Cynthia Spencer hospice and the town itself.”